- Sep 17, 2003
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Sy Perlis, 91, breaks record for bench-pressing
Don't mess with 91-year-old who broke world bench-pressing record
Most people feel lucky simply to be breathing past age 90. Not Sy Perlis. The 91-year-old from Surprise, Ariz., set out to break the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters record in the 90-and-over age division on Saturday — and after five tries, he did it. Perlis, who has a pacemaker and arthritis, benched 187.2 pounds, blowing well past the association record of 135 pounds in place since 2005. But the World War II veteran, who began weightlifting at age 60 because the sport didn't require him to run around, isn't stopping there. He's planning to break his own record again soon. His wife, Joan, 69, calls Perlis her "motivator." We're sure she's not the only one he inspires.
Don't mess with 91-year-old who broke world bench-pressing record
Most people feel lucky simply to be breathing past age 90. Not Sy Perlis. The 91-year-old from Surprise, Ariz., set out to break the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters record in the 90-and-over age division on Saturday — and after five tries, he did it. Perlis, who has a pacemaker and arthritis, benched 187.2 pounds, blowing well past the association record of 135 pounds in place since 2005. But the World War II veteran, who began weightlifting at age 60 because the sport didn't require him to run around, isn't stopping there. He's planning to break his own record again soon. His wife, Joan, 69, calls Perlis her "motivator." We're sure she's not the only one he inspires.
