If there is any doubt that Gainesville’s Tim “T” Moon is the king of the benchpress in the world of amateur powerlifting he extinguished those questions at the recent World United Amateur Powerlifting (WUAP) World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic.
After successfully defending his Olympia title in the elite invitational earlier this year in Las Vegas, Moon bested all-comers in the WUAP Worlds, winning two bench titles and two Best Lifter Awards.
On Oct. 18, Moon won the Raw bench title, and in a nearly unprecedented move, turned around the very next day, and won the Equipped World Championship as well. He pressed a world record 245 kilograms/540.13 pounds raw and benched 340/749.56 equipped to take World Championships in the Masters’ Men’s 50-54 140kg/308.64-pound classes. He also picked up Best Lifter awards in both raw and equipped. With an equipped bench of over 821 pounds to his credit, the 53 year-old Moon is the top bench-presser over the age of 50 in world history.
“Going to Prague, Czech Republic, was a great trip,” Moon said.” Prague is an amazing city. The traveling and competing at a high level is very difficult. I competed in the 308 weight class both days. My body weight was 293 pounds the first day and 295 pounds the second day.
“The first day was an endurance test. There were probably 300 lifters the first day. I won with a raw world record lift of 540 pounds. I received the best lifter trophy by formula at about midnight. I then had to lift about 11 a.m. the next day. I won with a lift of (almost) 750 pounds. I also won best lifter the second day. It was a big meet with hundreds of lifters from all over the world. Almost all of the lifters were very friendly and receptive to the big guy from the good ol' USA! I’m proud to represent my country and consider it a blessing to be able to compete as I do. God has truly made me strong. Many thanks to all who support me and thanks to Northlake Chiropractic in Gainesville for keeping me adjusted."
Moon is a 1982 graduate of Jefferson High.
Meanwhile, closer to home, just this past Saturday and Sunday, Moon’s Georgia IronDawg teammates also excelled. Lifting in the American Powerlifting Committee (APC)’s Salute to the Troops at Titanz Fitness in Commerce, 50-year-old Russ Tripp of Monroe moved into the 50-54-year-old, Masters’ Men’s 75kg/165.35-pound weight class and set an APC National Bench-only record with his lift of 142.5kg/313.49. His wife, Dana, took a title of her own with a bench of 47.5/104.72 in the Masters’ Women’s 45-49, 60/132. 28 class. Both Tripps earned Best Lifter Trophies in bench-only. IronDawg Andy Williamson of Jefferson took home Best Lifter and the championship of the MM 50-54, 110/242.51 push/pull class with his benchpress of 145/319.67 and deadlift of 237.5/523.59 for a total of 382.5/843.26. Williamson’s niece, Brittany Hobbs of Athens, made it a family affair by earning a Best Lifter trophy for the push/pull Open Women’s 100/220.46 pound class with a bench of 62.5/137.79 and a deadlift of 112.5/248.02. The deadlift equaled her own national push/pull record, which she broke on a fourth attempt of 120/264.55. (Fourth attempts are for records only and are not counted for places in the regular meet.) Her total of 175/385.81 equalled her national push/pull record total. All Lifters in Commerce lifted raw, without the special bench press shirts or squat suits.
Other northeast Georgians who impressed included Dahlonega’s Steve McHan. Lifting in the MM 65-69 110kg full-power class, McHan established National Records across the board with his squat (197.5/435.41), benchpress (127.5/281.09), deadlift (160/352.74) and total (485/1,069.23). McHan bumped the squat and deadlift national marks to 200/400.92 and 165/363.76 respectively as he went 11-for-11 on his lifts on the day. McHan’s efforts also landed him as runner-up to the Male Best Lifter overall in fullpower to Warner Robins’ Cody Reese, who totaled 780/1,719.59lbs. in talking the title of the Men’s Junior 140/308.64 weight division. The 279-pound, 23-year-old broke full power national records for the total, as well as for bench (202.5/446.43) and deadlift (305/672.4), to go along with a squat of 272.5/600.75. Reese almost pulled 320/705.47 on his third deadlift, but had the weight drop from his hands as he was lowering it to the floor. Also Sunday, John Lampe of Hull won the MM 50-54 fullpower 125kg title with a total of 560/1,234.58, while Tim Day of Commerce won the junior 125kg class with his total on the three lifts of 612.5/1,350.32.
Gainesville’s Jake Bracewell, a North Hall alumnus, won the raw Junior 75kg fullpower title on Saturday with a squat of 165/363.76; bench of 102.5/225.97; deadlift of 205/451.94 and total of 472.5/1,041.67. Also Saturday, Maysville’s Amber Herron won the Women’s Open 90/198.41 pounds class in deadlift-only with a pull of 92.5/203.93; while on Sunday Commerce’s Zach John won the Men’s Junior deadlift-only 110kg weight class with a personal and national record pull of 232.5/512.57. Both Herron and John lifted raw and won Best Lifter trophies as well.
Proceeds and donations from the meet went to benefit the military’s Wounded Warrior Project and the Marine Corps’ annual Toys for Tots campaign.
