LAS VEGAS — They say the third time's the charm. That may be true, but for Gainesville's Tim "T" Moon it was not an easy thing.
Moon battled through nagging shoulder pain and held off a Russian competitor 17 years his junior to repeat as champion in one of powerlifting's most prestigious meets, the Mr. Olympia Invitational Benchpress Championships in Las Vegas.
For Moon, the Master's 50-and-older, all-time world record holder in the bench press, it was his third straight Olympia title to go with a string of national and world titles earned across a number of federations.
Moon's winning lift was 345 kilograms, almost 761 pounds. He had to win on a tiebreaker, and by doing it gave his biggest fan, his wife of a few months, Patty, a birthday present of sorts.
"This was the most intense competition I have ever experienced, especially at this level," Moon said. "At this point in my life, I take very little for granted. It's very humbling to sit in the warm-up area and see all these mostly much younger people from all over the world. They said there were competitors from 70 countries there. At this level of competition the focus is not to shoot for a personal best but to win!
"I have become a seasoned veteran. I have learned from Garry Glenn, Gary Hatfield and Mike Kidd that at this level you have to use strategy as well as your strength. I lifted 330 kilograms (727.52 pounds) on my opener. My closest competitor was Russian, and he had raised his opener to 332.5 kg. (733.03 lbs) before we started. So he was able to watch me first. We both got our openers. He had the upper hand, though, because I had to choose my second attempt before he chose his. I chose 342.5 kgs (755.08 pounds) and I missed it. He chose a little higher than me at 345 kgs (760.59 pounds) and barely got it. Now he was ahead of me by about five pounds. I knew to win I would have to raise my third attempt to pass him, but I noticed he weighed more than me, so technically I could try to tie him (and win on the tiebreaker). I matched his second attempt with my third at 345 kgs (760.59 pounds). So now I was ahead of him because the tiebreaker was lightest bodyweight wins. He still had a chance to win, but he failed on his third attempt. It was very intense.
"Of course my American buddies were pulling for me and his Russian buddies were pulling for him. Last year I beat the same guy by 50 pounds. I beat my total from last year by only five pounds. Going into the Olympia I did not think I would be able to do as much this year. I have been chasing shoulder tendinitis for months. But I knew on my third (lift), I had to block out the pain and push through to win. I believe mental fortitude has a lot to do with winning and losing. The Russian was 37 and I'm 54 years old. I weighed in at 284 pounds, and my weight class is 140 kgs (308.64 pounds) so I was potentially 24 pounds under the limit. The lifter who finished a distant third was a much younger guy than me from Oklahoma but outweighed me by 24 pounds. Sometimes I just can't believe it, but God has truly made me strong for a reason and I acknowledge him with that!"
Moon says he has an opportunity to go to Slovakia in October but will need some financial sponsorship to be able to go.
"As always I'm very thankful for those who pray, encourage, support, and help me train -- especially my bride Patty Moon for her unwavering support! My competition day was on her birthday. Happy birthday baby!"
Moon is a Gainesville resident and a 1982 graduate of Jefferson High.
