Members of the Georgia IronDawgs powerlifting team were in action on opposite sides of the country this weekend and all came away with titles, including one of the most prestigious championships in the sport.
On Friday, Gainesville resident Tim “T” Moon took the bench-only championship of the elite Mr. Olympia meet in Las Vegas, winning a major title that has eluded him in the past, including last year when he failed to get in a valid lift on a judges’ split decision. In the invitation-only championship, the 52-year-old Moon beat out a pair of Russians to take the title in the 140-kilogram/308.64-pound weight class with his third press of 357.5 kg/788.14 and then set the new IPL Master's record on a fourth lift of 365/804.68, despite coming in on the lower side of the weight class at only 281.53 pounds.
Moon has a meet personal record of over 821 pounds and is regarded as the strongest benchpresser over the age of 50, regardless of weight, in world history. Moon is a 1982 graduate of Jefferson High.
“I know it’s not reasonable for me to have won. I'm very humbled and grateful to even be invited but to win... God has made me strong!" Moon said. "I weighed in at 127.7 kilos (281.53 pounds) and 52 years old. I opened with 335 (kg/738.54) trying to be conservative. An event like this is a time to focus on winning, not particularly going for a PR (personal record). There is a lot of strategy involved. All of the lifters are to be ranked in the top five in the world of their respective weight classes. So everyone is competitive. My second lift was 345(/760.59) -- still not going as high as I anticipated I went to 357.5 (788.14), and I smoked it. It was my best lift yet. Nikolai Pyshmintsev of Russia took second with 325 (716.5). Dmitry Bubnov of Russia took third with 310 (683.43). I was granted a fourth attempt as it was for an IPL Master’s world record. I felt pretty well spent because I only had about a four minute break between my third and fourth lifts. I was the only one taking a fourth attempt.
"I went to 365 (804.68) and amazingly enough, it was my best press. I walked away with the heaviest bench of Mr. Olympia. What an honor! I was blessed to have Chris McCann travel with me as my spotter-also blessed to have my daughter Leslie Moon and her friend Jenna Schimmel to help out with loading the bar in the warmup area, etc.
It was a very fun competition that was very memorable for me and my crew. We had a great time.”
Meanwhile, closer to home in Gainesville, three of Moon’s IronDawg teammates also won championships in the America’s Cup Powerlifting meet Saturday at the Iron Beast Gym.
In Bench-only, Jefferson’s Andy Williamson won the title in the "raw" master’s men’s (MM) 110kg/242.51, 50-54-year-old class with his lift of 340 pounds. George Bradley of Gainesville moved up an age group to the Equipped 60-64-year-old MM 67.5kg/146.81 and pressed 225 for the medal. Oakwood’s R. Garry Glenn competed in the Raw push/pull (bench/deadlift) MM 60-64 class, 100kg/220.46 and took the title with a 720-pound total. At a bodyweight of a little over 207 pounds, the 62-year-old Glenn set a new National push/pull deadlift mark of 405 pounds. He finished with 315 on the bench after missing his third attempt at 325. Glenn is a 1972 alumnus of Jefferson High.
The Meet’s full-power (squat/bench/deadlift) "best lifter" went to Dahlonega’s Eric Purves who totaled 1,405 pounds (s-475/b-365/d-565) in winning the "raw" junior men’s 82.5kg/181.88 division. Dexter’s Joe Howell was runner-up in the division (435/285/435/1,155).
The Open champ was Alpharetta’s Jasper Price in the "raw" 90kg/198.41 division (510/375/530/1,415), while the "raw" master’s 45-49, 125kg/275.58 pounds. "Fullpower" champion was John Lampe of Hull with the day’s heaviest total of 1,430 pounds (525/365/540).
Nicholas Loomas, 19, of Clermont won his "raw" 82.5kg class in bench-only with 315.
For more information visit the APC website at www.americanpowerliftingcommittee-usa.com.
