{
  "id": 8533403,
  "title": "17-year-old Liam Anderson breaks bench press record twice with 396, 402 pounds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/17-year-old-liam-anderson-breaks-bench-press-record-twice-with-396",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-19T19:50:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/international-sports/at-17-new-york-student-liam-anderson-breaks-national-bench-press-record-with-396-pounds-then-breaks-his-own-record-again-with-402-pounds/articleshow/134360016.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Liam Anderson embarked on the 2026 USA Powerlifting Southwest Regional Championships with a singular aim: to break the national bench press record in his age and weight class before he turned 18 this month. At the competition held on September 5 in Grapevine, Texas, Anderson surpassed expectations. On his second attempt, he lifted 180 kilograms, or approximately 396 pounds, setting a new American record. He then returned for his final attempt, lifting 182.5 kilograms, or about 402 pounds, and broke the record he had just established moments earlier.\n\nAnderson competed in the 16-to-17 age division and the up-to-82.5-kilogram weight class, roughly 182 pounds. He knew this could be one of his final opportunities to set the record before he stepped into a new age group following his 18th birthday. The teenager had dedicated a month to preparation specifically for this record attempt, focusing on conditioning his body and mind to lift the weight required in Texas.\n\nHis second attempt marked a pivotal moment in the competition. Anderson successfully pressed 180 kilograms, or around 396 pounds, breaking the existing American record for his age group. However, he was not content with merely breaking the record; he aimed to surpass it. For his final lift, Anderson increased the weight to 182.5 kilograms, about 402 pounds, and successfully completed the lift, pushing the national record higher.\n\nLiam Anderson later shared with NEWS10 ABC that he felt confident before his second attempt due to his targeted training for the record during the preceding month. The final lift, however, was driven by pure adrenaline. He also expressed that he was considering his mother during the lift, which made the achievement even more personal. The successful lift saw 182.5 kilograms as his new national record.\n\nAnderson's journey to setting these records has been swift, especially considering his relatively short time in powerlifting. He started lifting in 2025, and much of his progress occurred in a brief span. His competitive career with USA Powerlifting intensified in early 2026. By early 2026, Anderson had already set a New York State record in his age and weight class in November 2025—another milestone that pushed him toward the national record.\n\nWith his 18th birthday approaching, Anderson had limited time to make his record attempt. The Southwest Regional Championships provided the perfect opportunity. Anderson had trained with the national record in mind, targeting a specific number. He achieved it and then exceeded it, making his two successful lifts the highlight of his young powerlifting career.",
  "summary": "Liam Anderson has officially set a new American powerlifting record, and moments later, he astonishingly surpassed his own achievement during the same competition. After one month of dedicated training for this moment, the athlete, who first entered competitive lifting in 2025, is eyeing ambitious new goals within an alternate age division.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}