LAS VEGAS — As the strongest benchpresser in the world over the age of 50, Gainesville's Tim Moon is usually the man to beat in any meet he enters, even if just before that meet, he helped his brother clear downed trees due to Hurricane Irma. Not one to make excuses, Moon nevertheless concedes the chore was a bit tiring for his upper body but added, "family comes first."
Despite all of that, however, Moon successfully defended his bench press title at the ultra-prestigious Mr. Olympia Invitational in Las Vegas.
Moon opened with 755 pounds, which he described as "easy." He then tried to set an International Powerlifting League World Record of about 810, but touched the bar too low and missed it. He felt confident of his strength, though, and on his third and final lift went for a meet personal record of over 826 pounds (375 kilograms). The video replay shows he was an inch or so away from locking and holding it at the top of the lift.
"I'm very grateful to have the opportunity to lift against some of the best lifters in the world," Moon said. This was my third consecutive trip to compete at the Mr. Olympia pro powerlifting invitational in Las Vegas. My training at Rise Athletic in Oakwood has been great lately. I'm also bigger than I have ever been. I weighed in right at 295 lbs., (but) I'm still 13 lbs under the 308 weight class. My opening lift was a relatively easy 755 pounds.
"I then attempted 810 which would have been an IPL World record. I missed it. I had the strength but I was out of my groove. My third attempt was 826 pounds, which I pushed to the top but was unable to hold it there. I was very thankful to win but I was disappointed with my number. The second and third place lifters were both Russians -- Nikolai Pyshmintcev and Dmitriy Bubnov. I out lifted them by 50 pounds. I'm blessed to be able to out-lift my competitors who were 10-20 years younger than me. God has truly made me strong. I had a great support team this year with me: my daughter Leslie Moon, girlfriend Patty Garrison, and handler Chris McCann. I'm also thankful to my sponsors attorney K. Douglass Cook and Northlake Chiropractor."
Moon, a 1982 graduate of Jefferson High, says his next competition will be at the World United Amateur Powerlifting (WUAP) World's in Prague, Czech Republic, in mid-October.
