Big James Henderson
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James Henderson | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 9, 1965 |
| Other names | Big James Henderson, James "Hollywood" Henderson |
| Occupation(s) | Powerlifter, Preacher, Motivational speaker |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Spouse | Shelia Henderson |
| Website | http://www.bigjameshenderson.com/ |
| Competition record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Powerlifting - Bench Press | ||
Representing  United States | ||
| IPF Bench Press World Championships[1] | ||
| 1st | 1994 | +125kg |
| 1st | 1995 | +125kg |
| 1st | 1996 | +125kg |
| 1st | 1997 | +125kg |
| 1st | 1998 | +125kg |
| USPF National Powerlifting Championships[1] | ||
| 3rd | 1996 | +125kg |
James Gregory Henderson, also known as Big James Henderson and James "Hollywood" Henderson, (born April 9, 1965) is a former American powerlifter who specialized in the bench press. He competed in the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and was five times Super Heavyweight World Bench Press Champion. He was the first man to bench press over 700 pounds (317.5 kg) raw.[2] James set several world records throughout his career, including the all-time world record in the raw (unassisted) bench press with 711 lb (323 kg).
Personal records
Henderson won five consecutive bench press world titles from the International Powerlifting Federation in the 1990s:
- 1994 Järvenpää,
Finland[3][4] - 1995 Frýdek-Místek,
Czech Republic[5] - 1996 Silkeborg,
Denmark[6] - 1997 Leduc,
Canada[7] - 1998 Amberg,
Germany[8]
Henderson became the second man to bench press over 700 lb raw in May 1996 when he pressed 705 lb in just a T-shirt and made it on the cover of Powerlifting USA magazine.[9]
Powerlifting competition record:
done in official powerlifting meets
- Bench press - 711.0 lb (322.5 kg) @ 390 lb (SHW) raw without wrist wraps and belt (July 13, 1997 USPF/IPF)[10][11]
- → former IPF world record in SHW class (+regardless of weight class) for over 7 years; surpassed by Brian Siders's 712.1 lb (323.0 kg) (equipped in singleply bench shirt) in 2004
- → former all-time raw world record in SHW class (+regardless of weight class); surpassed by Scot Mendelson's 713 lbs (323.4 kg) (raw) in 2003[12]
- → current all-time drug-tested raw world record in SHW class (+regardless of weight class) since 1997[12]
Gym record (unofficial):
done in the gym according to James himself
- Bench press - 744 lb (337.5 kg)[13] raw without wrist wraps and belt
Heaviest lift
James Henderson is the current world record holder for heaviest drug tested raw bench press in history and held the highest raw bench press ever done in a full powerlifting 3-lift-meet (squat-bench press-deadlift) until Thomas Davis in 2021. His record setting lift was 711.0 lbs. (322.5 kg)[14] and was performed on July 13, 1997, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as the 3rd attempt at the USPF Senior Nationals (IPF/USPF sanctioned three-lift-event) under strict IPF-conditions.[10][12] On the same day, he pressed 683 lb (309.8 kg) on the 1st, 699.9 lb (317.5 kg) on the 2nd and even went for 722 lb (327.5 kg) on the 4th, but barely missed it. Henderson bench pressed unequipped in the strictest meaning of the word - without belt, without elbow bandages and even without wrist wraps - in just a T-shirt and a singlet.