52-Year-Old Benches 300lbs Easily
Powerlifter Jen Thompson, age 52, continues to make benching 300 pounds look effortless and remains a dominant force in competitive bench press. Thompson's career began in 1999, demonstrating the longevity possible in strength sports with proper training and technique.
- Outside of powerlifting, Jen Thompson is a long-time math and electives teacher, currently at Lincoln Charter School in North Carolina, and has been an educator for over 28 years. - Thompson is an 11-time International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) world champion and was inducted into the IPF Hall of Fame in 2019. - In March 2023, she set an all-time world record for the Masters 50-59 age category in the 67.5-kilogram weight class with a bench press of 146 kilograms (321.8 pounds). - Her best raw competition lifts include a 353 lb squat, a 327.5 lb bench press, and a 457.5 lb deadlift. - Thompson has won the USAPL Nationals 50 times and has set a total of 77 world records throughout her career in both open and masters categories. - She is married to her coach and fellow powerlifter, Donovan Thompson, and their two sons also train in the sport. - Competing in the 63 kg (138 lbs) weight class, she has achieved a raw bench press of 312 lbs and a total (including squat and deadlift) of 1071 lbs in an IPF World Classic/Raw competition. - Pound for pound, she has been recognized as having the best bench press among both men and women in the world.
