Liam Anderson is an American high-school powerlifter from upstate New York who benched 182.5kg (402lb) raw at 17, weighing 82kg. That’s about 2.2 times his bodyweight, and it set a USA Powerlifting national record for the 16–17 age group at 82.5kg. His competition bench has climbed 30kg in 17 months, and he wants 227kg (500lb) before he turns 20.
Liam Anderson was still 17 when he benched 182.5kg at the USA Powerlifting Southwest Regional Championships in Grapevine, Texas. He weighed 82kg, making the lift more than 2.2 times his bodyweight.
Anderson, a senior at Shenendehowa High School in upstate New York, competes in the 16–17 age division and the 82.5kg weight class. He opened with 175kg, set the national record for his age and weight class with 180kg on his second attempt, then broke it again on his third with 182.5kg, a few weeks before his 18th birthday, the Times Union reported.
That is a very large bench press from a very young lifter. It is also a competition result, recorded under powerlifting rules, rather than a gym clip with a questionable plate count.
Liam Anderson by the numbers
- Age: 17 at the meet (turned 18 a few weeks later)
- Bodyweight: 82kg, in the 82.5kg class
- Record bench: 182.5kg (402lb), raw
- Bodyweight ratio: 2.23 times
- Attempts: 175kg, 180kg (national record), 182.5kg (national record)
- Gain since April 2025: +30kg on his competition bench
- Next goal: 227kg (500lb) before he turns 20
How strong is Liam Anderson?
Anderson benched 182.5kg at a bodyweight of 82kg. That works out to about 2.23 times his bodyweight.
The result is listed as a raw lift in the meet record. In powerlifting, “raw” generally means the lifter isn’t using a supportive bench shirt to help move the bar. It doesn’t mean the lift is directly comparable with every gym bench press: competition attempts have rules and judging standards, including a pause on the chest before the press.
To put the number in context, here’s how it compares with the benchmarks in our bench, squat and deadlift strength standards, applied to an 82kg man:
Bench press standards at 82kg bodyweight
| Level | Bodyweight multiple | Bench at 82kg |
|---|---|---|
| Average bloke | 1× | 82kg |
| Above average | 1.5× | 123kg |
| Superhero | 2× | 164kg |
| Liam Anderson | 2.23× | 182.5kg |
The standards are informal gym benchmarks for men who have trained regularly for several months, not competition standards. Anderson clears the top band by 18.5kg, at 17.
From 152.5kg to 182.5kg in 17 months
The record wasn’t a one-off. Anderson has competed regularly since early 2025, and his results on OpenPowerlifting show a steady climb on the bench while his bodyweight barely moved.
Liam Anderson’s competition bench press
| Date | Meet | Bodyweight | Best bench |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2025 | NY State High School Championships | 80kg | 152.5kg |
| Jun 2025 | American Challenge NY | 81.6kg | 160kg |
| Aug 2025 | Rochester Rumble VII | 82kg | 160kg |
| Nov 2025 | Sincere Training Systems Classic IV | 81.9kg | 162.5kg |
| Jan 2026 | Hudson Valley Classic | 81.2kg | 165kg |
| Mar 2026 | New York State Championships | 81.3kg | 172.5kg |
| Jul 2026 | USA Powerlifting Bench Nationals | 81.4kg | 175kg |
| Sep 2026 | USA Powerlifting Southwest Regionals | 82kg | 182.5kg |
Source: OpenPowerlifting competition records. Raw, 82.5kg class throughout.
That’s 30kg added in 17 months, or a little under 2kg a month, all while staying between 80kg and 82kg. He didn’t get stronger by getting heavier. It also wasn’t a straight line: he stalled at 160kg for most of mid-2025 before moving again, which is what progress usually looks like for real lifters.
He says he benched 127kg the first time he went to the gym
Anderson told the Times Union that he benched 280lb, or about 127kg, the first time he tried serious weightlifting. He said he weighed about 160lb, or 72.6kg, at the time.
That is an extraordinary starting point. It is also Anderson’s account of his first gym session, not a standard that anyone should expect to match. The more useful detail is the table above: a year and a half of regular competition, with the bar creeping up a few kilos at a time.
What does he do to train?
There isn’t enough reliable public information to lay out Anderson’s full training programme. The available reporting covers his competition results and goals, but not his weekly sessions, coaching or progression scheme.
So the honest answer to “how did he get so strong?” is that we don’t have the complete story yet. His record lift shows what he can do on the platform. It doesn’t offer a programme other lifters can copy. If you want to build your own bench, start with our bench press improvement workout and our guide to the best chest exercises for men.
The milk claim, with a little context
Anderson told the Times Union he drinks “maybe half a gallon a day” of milk, roughly 1.9 litres, and joked that it was “like all my protein”. It’s a memorable line, but it isn’t a complete nutrition plan or a recommendation for other lifters.
We don’t have a full breakdown of what he eats, and he is a teenage athlete with his own needs. Treat the milk detail as an anecdote, not a shortcut to a 182.5kg bench. If you’re trying to eat for strength, our list of high protein foods, with grams per serve, is a more useful place to start.
His next target is 227kg
Anderson has said he wants to bench 500lb, about 227kg, before he turns 20. That’s another 44.5kg in roughly two years. If he kept adding weight at the rate he has since April 2025, he would land close to it, though gains usually slow as a lifter gets stronger.
He has already earned a place on the USA Powerlifting National Bench Press Team after benching 175kg at Bench Nationals in July, where he won his teen division. He declined an invitation to compete at the International Drug Free Powerlifting Association World Championships in Iceland because of school commitments. He also has more than 250,000 followers on TikTok, so plenty of people will be watching the next attempt.
If you enjoy seeing lifters defy expectations, read our breakdown of how Anatoly built his strength. Anatoly’s viral feat is a 290kg deadlift; Anderson’s is a competition bench press. Different lifts, same reminder that the number on the bar tells you more than appearance alone.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Liam Anderson?
Anderson was 17 when he benched 182.5kg at the 2026 USA Powerlifting Southwest Regional Championships. He was a few weeks away from his 18th birthday, according to the Times Union.
How much can Liam Anderson bench press?
His best competition bench press is 182.5kg, or about 402lb, raw, in the 82.5kg weight class.
How much does Liam Anderson weigh?
He weighed 82kg at the meet and has competed between 80kg and 82kg since April 2025, according to OpenPowerlifting.
Where is Liam Anderson from?
He is a senior at Shenendehowa High School in upstate New York. He set his record at a regional meet in Grapevine, Texas.
What is Liam Anderson’s next goal?
Anderson has said he wants to bench 500lb, about 227kg, before he turns 20.
