Warren resident sets new world record in bench press
Dean Smith has taken on a few names since breaking onto Manitoba’s powerlifting scene: national champion, provincial record holder, and regional record setter.
And now, world record holder.
The 56-year-old Warren resident raised the global bar in bench press after pushing a brow-raising 187.5 kilograms at a Winnipeg meet last month.
It became the new standard in the Masters 2 (55-59 years old) 82.5 kg weight class.
“I tried to downplay it, but it feels good that you know you’re going somewhere,” Smith said recently.
Smith has competed for six years, but this was his first time entering an equipped meet. This is the original form of powerlifting, in which competitors wear a tight polyester shirt that helps them lift considerably more weight than they normally would.
Smith’s best bench press without the equipped shirt is 150 kg.
Equipped lifters make up a small niche—about 25 percent—of the powerlifting community these days, but Smith tried his hand at it to push himself toward a new goal.
“The thing about the world record is I knew going into it… whatever I did — as long as I hit my targets — was going to get me a national record,” he said. “But, I wasn’t aware until that morning that it was (going to be) a world record, so no added pressure there, right?”
“I kind of lowered my standard a little bit, and I think I left a little bit of kilos on the table, so to speak. I probably could’ve done more, but I just wanted to get something in the book, so I’m happy with it; it leaves me room to grow for next time.”
Powerlifting motivates Smith to lead a healthier lifestyle. Without it, he would “drive right by the gym like anybody else.”
Shortly after watching his nephew compete, he broke into the sport at 50 years old. Since then, he’s appeared in 15 meets on the local, provincial, regional and national levels.
“I realized that they had categories for everybody, and I thought, ‘Hey, I used to work out.’ I thought it was kind of motivating so, we, at that age, felt like I needed something and I needed a goal to try and get my foot in the door of the gym like anybody,” he said.
Smith has accomplished a lot in a short time, which isn’t lost on him while watching many of his friends who have been in the space for much longer never win. He experiences an overwhelming feeling of gratitude each time he wins or sets a new record, and his latest feat is no different.
“People go, ‘You’re going to get weaker when you get old.’ Well, I’m still making linear progress at 56, so I’m not really buying into it, and I’m motivated to do it as long as I can,” Smith said.
“I’m motivated. Normally, after a competition, I take a couple of weeks off and now I’m kind of excited to get back in and start working toward the next accomplishment.”
Smith will aim to set the bar even higher at the Equipped Powerlifting National Meet, which will be held in Abbotsford, B.C., in September.
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