EAST PEORIA, Ill. — It seems that whatever the association and whatever the weight-class or age group, Georgia IronDawg Tim "T" Moon of Gainesville is the man to beat when it comes to the benchpress.
This past Saturday, the 51-year-old Moon traveled to East Peoria, Ill., to compete in the WUAP/USA National Championships and came home with another title and more records as he completed his second-heaviest competition lift: 360 kilograms (almost 794 pounds). At a bodyweight of about 289 pounds, Moon was lifting in the equipped, master's men's 50-54-year-old 140-kilogram/308.64 pound weight class.
"I am truly blessed," Moon, a 1982 alumnus of Jefferson High, said. "God has indeed made me very strong. I have the opportunity to travel to many different places and to lift with and against the strongest people in the nation and world. I'm very thankful for the Ironbeast (Gym in Gainesville) to train at and for all my training partners and people who help spot me; I'm also thankful for my wife and daughters who support me and my hobby.
"Today was a good day. I made my opening attempt but missed my second, so I retook it for my third. (I) made 335kg (738.54 pounds.), missed 360 (793.66 pounds), made 360kg, was too spent for a fourth -- which would have been 372.5/821.21. I was disappointed to have missed my second. I feel I cheated myself of my desired goal. But I'm also grateful I broke the master's 50-54 140kg and the open 140kg world records. I'm very strong right now but I'm still hampered by instability and soreness in one of my shoulders. I took 'best lifter' (trophy) at the meet with the heaviest lift of the day in all categories and events."
Facebook friends of Moon can see his winning lift on his page.
Moon last year benched over 810 pounds — the heaviest known benchpress for anyone over the age of 50.
Many of the IronDawgs lifters will compete this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the American Powerlifting Committee National Championships at the Holiday Inn Express in Athens. Moon has competed on short rest before but says his availability for this one depends on his shoulder.
"T continues to set the bar for the bench press," said Georgia IronDawg Team Captain R. Garry Glenn. "We'd love to have him for the team competitions this week in Athens, but he also needs to stay healthy."
The APC Nationals begin at 10 a.m. Friday with opening ceremonies, followed by the benchpress, push/pull and deadlift competitions. Full power classes will be held Saturday and Sunday.
