For This Female Powerlifter, Benching 325 Pounds Is Just Another Day At The Office

When you think about the bio of a four-time world champion powerlifter, you probably don't think that it might be your high school math teacher. And it's unlikely that the 43-year old wife and mother who lives next door would come to mind either. If your first mental image was even female, she probably weighed about 200 - 300 pounds instead of 120 or 130 pounds, right? Well, Jennifer Thompson is about to change your perception completely.

Thompson has been powerlifting since 1999 and competes in the USAPL and the IPF federations. She is 5'5" tall and weighs in at just 132 pounds. She competes in the 138-pound weight class. Be clear about one thing--the lady can lift some serious weight. Here's a look at some of her personal best lifts: squat 325 pounds, bench 308 pounds, dead lift 446 pounds.

This Denver, North Carolina athlete is a drug-free competitor. According to her website, her personal goals are to defend her World Classic Championship title, bench press 315 pounds (raw), dead lift 500 pounds, and "perform a respectable squat". Judging by her present abilities, a "respectable" squat must be somewhere around 1,000 pounds.

At first sight, you wouldn't guess that Thompson was a world-class weight lifter at all. She inspires women to to get involved in the sport to prove that "you don't have to look like a man to lift like one". 

A recent visit to the Liberty University weight room afforded Thompson the opportunity to achieve a personal best of 325 pounds in the bench press. It was there that she shared with witnesses that she started some 17 years ago with a pair of light weight dumbbells. Her progress has been slow and steady, but she stresses the importance of being consistent and embracing a healthy lifestyle. Thompson credits her success to good nutrition, quality sleep, and dedicated work in the gym. She also has the help of her husband, Donovan, who is her coach.

If you are inspired to start throwing some weight around, check out this video of Thompson demonstrating the perfect bench press. As always, consult your doctor before embarking on any exercise or diet program and enlist the help of a certified personal trainer to help you get started. Who knows? Your next stop might be at the world championships!