Gene Rychlak

Gene Rychlak was an American powerlifter who specialized in the bench press, born in 1968 and died on 26 July 2019 of a heart condition. He was the first man to bench press over both 900 pounds and 1,000 pounds, and he founded the Revolution Powerlifting Syndicate federation. At a bodyweight above 345 pounds he held the record for the heaviest equipped bench press, 1,010 pounds, set on 16 December 2006 in Lake George, New York; that record now belongs to Ryan Kennelly with 1,075 pounds. At the 2005 Mr. Olympia event he tried a 1,015 pound press that fell onto his body despite several spotters, and he was not seriously hurt. He also squatted 1,005 pounds in competition.