Hugo Girard benches 740 pounds!?!

[Tony Christopher]

There's a story posted on Iron Mind that Hugo set a PR 740 pound bench press in an exhibition this past weekend.

:BP:

Anyone know the details of this lift? What kind of gear (if any) was used?

If it's raw it would be a world record ... awesome lifting in any event.

[Sean Hatley]

was it raw or no

[Grant Buhr]

Apparently, Hugo used an Inzer shirt. Still, that's a MASSIVE lift, especially considering he is no longer a competing powerlifter. He really went to town training upper body during his long convalescence.

His old record in the CPA (a WPA affiliate) was 625 lb.

[Brendan Merchant]

What was up with him?

[Grant Buhr]

He tore his achilles tendon at the 2005 Arnold Classic, requiring surgery and putting him in a cast and on crutches. After the cast came off, he felt fine but started training too soon and tore it again...necessitating surgury again.

[Tony Crawford]

I didn't know that Hugo was a bench specialist to. Congrats.

[Tony Christopher]

Hopefully Hugo's extreme upper body work will translate to log lifting prowess (which has always been amazing).

It would be nice if someone could challenge the 200kg+ log lifts that Savickas is putting up ... right now it seems the other guys are topping out at ONLY (cough, cough) 180-185kg.

[davebeers]

Hopefully Hugo's extreme upper body work will translate to log lifting prowess (which has always been amazing).

It would be nice if someone could challenge the 200kg+ log lifts that Savickas is putting up ... right now it seems the other guys are topping out at ONLY (cough, cough) 180-185kg.
once someone with raw overhead strength decides to spend some time on learning how to power-jerk, the log record will make its way to 500lbs.

[Tony Christopher]

But I thought folks might be interested in this ... just ran across another article on Huge-O:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/OtherSports/2006/05/26/1599050-sun.html

[Paul Savage]

But I thought folks might be interested in this ... just ran across another article on Huge-O:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/OtherSports/2006/05/26/1599050-sun.html
im not sure if im getting this right but i think that said hes 10% bodyfat @ 330lbs

[Jesse Snadden]

The 740 was a single ply inzer shirt. And it was easy as pie. Not far off from the IPF world record.

He didn't want to peak his squat and deadlift yet because of Mohegan Sun super series.

[Chris McNatt]

once someone with raw overhead strength decides to spend some time on learning how to power-jerk, the log record will make its way to 500lbs.


exactly! Dan Harrison and I wonder the same thing

740 in a single ply is pretty amazing!!! Just around the corner from the amazing 800lbs! bench

[Tony Christopher]

The 740 was a single ply inzer shirt. And it was easy as pie. Not far off from the IPF world record.

He didn't want to peak his squat and deadlift yet because of Mohegan Sun super series.

Well, at the IPF worlds bench press championship the superheavy title was won by Viktor Shabanov with a 345kg (~ 760 pound) press.

Hugo would have been very competative ... Amazing! :F:

Wonder what he could push if he put on one of those triple ply canvas / denim open back shirts?

[Jesse Snadden]

Wonder what he could push if he put on one of those triple ply canvas / denim open back shirts?

No one wears triple ply shirts, they wouldn't touch their chest with anything. Gene Rychlak and Scott Mendelson wear double ply inzer shirts that are custom made for them. Something other lifters aren't privy too.

[davebeers]

No one wears triple ply shirts, they wouldn't touch their chest with anything. Gene Rychlak and Scott Mendelson wear double ply inzer shirts that are custom made for them. Something other lifters aren't privy too.
not true my friend. Gene, Kennelly, and many top level lifters wear shirts with more than 2 layers.
Kara's shirt even looks a little funny...i think she might have some extra layers.

Touching is not in the layers...its in the fit of the shirt. I have a 3 ply denim hand-me-down and have touched 315lbs in it. When i gain weight it takes more weight to touch.


Hugo is a strong guy but i doubt he could hang with the top bench pressers in the world. These guys have years and years invested and many of them specialize in the bench. He might be able to hang in the ipf....but the ipf is a tested organization.

760lbs might get him in the top 20 benchers...i'll have to check the list

[Jesse Snadden]

Dave, Siders has the IPF record which is like 770 or so. 744 with a single ply is a much more impressive than 800-900 with a double ply and Hugo can also bang out 650 raw. He used to be a powerlifter before being a strongman and powerlifting is what built up his foundation.

I have no doubt he can hang with the best in powerlifting for the bench press.

[Patrick McGuffin]

once someone with raw overhead strength decides to spend some time on learning how to power-jerk, the log record will make its way to 500lbs.

Cough, Dru Patrick Cough. Think about it 400lb++++ seated military, I mean with a few monthes of practice he would have a massive log press.

[davebeers]

Dave, Siders has the IPF record which is like 770 or so. 744 with a single ply is a much more impressive than 800-900 with a double ply and Hugo can also bang out 650 raw. He used to be a powerlifter before being a strongman and powerlifting is what built up his foundation.

I have no doubt he can hang with the best in powerlifting for the bench press.
650 raw bench would put him in the top 20 benchers in the world.
I don't like to debate single vs double because guys have done over 800lbs in a single poly. Raw is most impressive to me

[Ryan Phillips]

Cough, Dru Patrick Cough. Think about it 400lb++++ seated military, I mean with a few monthes of practice he would have a massive log press.

he did 450 seated press i think.

[Ryan Phillips]

650 raw bench would put him in the top 20 benchers in the world.
I don't like to debate single vs double because guys have done over 800lbs in a single poly. Raw is most impressive to me

who did 800 in a single ply?? Im pretty sure siders in the best with his 770 about 4 weeks ago.

[davebeers]

steve wong has done 800lbs in a single, and that was 6 months ago....many have done it since then

[Ryan Phillips]

steve wong has done 800lbs in a single, and that was 6 months ago....many have done it since then


haha, sorry i completly forgot about all the non IPF lifters lol. When i think single ply i dont even think about the other guys. I just think ppl from IPF are the only ones who use single lol my bad. A 650 raw bench would put him in the top 10 in the world all time for raw benching. I just looked at the raw lists and there is no one out side the US that has done over 650 raw. The best is 639 by Riku Kiri. Just goes to show how advanced USA is at benching, 10 ppl have done 650 and not one is from outside america. crazy!!

[Tony Christopher]

When every report of a big bench (or squat for that matter) wasn't followed by a protracted discussion of what equipment the person wore, what supplements he was using, what Fed it was in (i.e. what the judging was like) etc.

Guess that's one of the reasons I'm a bigger fan of strongman than powerlifting.

Incredible lifting by Hugo any way you slice it ... makes me really look forward to the Mohegan Sun event in a few days.

[Jesse Snadden]

800 in a single ply isn't a common occurence. And Hugo's 740 was reported to be very very easy. For someone who doesnt' specialize in the bench press, I think it's f-ing incredible.

[davebeers]

haha, sorry i completly forgot about all the non IPF lifters lol. When i think single ply i dont even think about the other guys. I just think ppl from IPF are the only ones who use single lol my bad. A 650 raw bench would put him in the top 10 in the world all time for raw benching. I just looked at the raw lists and there is no one out side the US that has done over 650 raw. The best is 639 by Riku Kiri. Just goes to show how advanced USA is at benching, 10 ppl have done 650 and not one is from outside america. crazy!!
many have done over 600 raw, but not many in a contest for fear of torn pecs. Mendelson has gotten 715 raw, and i know ryan kennelly can do 600 for 3. Most shirted benchers don't really care about their raw press however.

[Jay O'Neill]

800 in a single ply isn't a common occurence. And Hugo's 740 was reported to be very very easy. For someone who doesnt' specialize in the bench press, I think it's f-ing incredible.

Let me second that!
All I have to say is I am very Happy for Hugo. I am glad he did not retire! HE is one of my all time Favorite strength athletes!

[Tony Christopher]

800 in a single ply isn't a common occurence. And Hugo's 740 was reported to be very very easy. For someone who doesnt' specialize in the bench press, I think it's f-ing incredible.

Jesse,

I don't want you to say anything that would invade Hugo's privacy ... but can you give us an idea how the rest of his training is going?

Has he put up any big log lifts, squats or deadlifts lately?

Been taking jogs with 500 pound farmers implements, or something similar? :T:

[Patrick McGuffin]

he did 450 seated press i think.

Thats what I thought, I just wasnt to sure about it.

[Grant Buhr]

but can you give us an idea how the rest of his training is going

I'm not Jesse...but when I was talking with Hugo two weeks ago, he said that he didn't want to give anything away, but that everything was going extremely well, and that he was going to surprise a LOT of people this year.

[Jesse Snadden]

Ya, Hugo is always telling me what he is doing in training, but wants me to keep it to myself. Let's just say he is one hell of an athlete and I am very fortunate to get to talk to him and know what he is doing.

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

Yo Philips, remember Bolton is putting up alot raw too... :D: