Ben Johnson benched 360 for 10

[Hulkotron]

Upper body strength is very important for sprinting. 

[Dave D]

Not neccesarily.
Official olympic plates are in kilograms.
So no 45's but 20kgs or 25kgs. 20kg is 44lbs and 25kgs are 55lbs.

So that 360lbs would be two red plates and one blue on each side.

Anyway, that is why there is sometimes odd numbers mentioned on some of the articles, videos etc.

European teenagers dont have 200,300 or 400lbs sticking points.
They have 100kgs, 150kgs, 200kgs etc. ( 220, 330, 440lbs )

On topic: I've seen local sprinters use ridicilous amounts of weights on seemingly unimportant lifts for them.
But speed athletes, jumpers , throwers should be gifted in explosive power so, they are.

It's fine man, I'm wrong.

Like most here I've trained with professional and Olympic athletes. None were at Ben Johnson's level in terms of being the elite of elite. Some were weight room strong some weren't.

Ben Johnson is a world record holding sprinter who's, "record" stood for almost 20 years, but I still dont think he benched 360 for 10, cumulatively during his whole life, let alone at one time.

Im sure he benches more than Carl Lewis though.

[Dave D]

Never realized Johnson was that small. He looked bigger on the track.

Tyson was somewhat manufactured as well. When he came out of jail he was 185.

https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/jo/ben-johnson-1.html

This says he competed at 165.


Good point on Tyson.

His weight seemed to fluctuate greatly during his career, I'm sure it was a combination of anabolics and antidepressants.

[Humble Narcissist]

Good thread.  Even though I knew nothing about gear when he got 'caught' I could have cared less - that world record run was electrifying

Then later on when I got my 'gear eye' in I predicted Marion Jones was pumped full of sh*t...

But there comes a point with things like gymnastics and wrestling where the amount of static (or close to static) holding and forced negatives (opposing an opponent or slowing your movement) might have a strong hypertrophy effect, no..?  So are the physiques of the gymnasts and/or wrestler natty?

Here's an example - Javier Cortina - natty or not GetBig?

Definitely juiced to the gills.  The delts alone give it away.  No natty has full striated delts at sub 10% bodyfat.

[Hulkotron]

It's fine man, I'm wrong.

Like most here I've trained with professional and Olympic athletes. None were at Ben Johnson's level in terms of being the elite of elite. Some were weight room strong some weren't.

Ben Johnson is a world record holding sprinter who's, "record" stood for almost 20 years, but I still dont think he benched 360 for 10, cumulatively during his whole life, let alone at one time.

Im sure he benches more than Carl Lewis though.

I've heard (I forget source) that Lewis didn't lift at all until late in his career.  I find it hard to believe that a man who held the world record in the 100 meters in the late '80s - early '90s never touched a weight while accomplishing this feat, but sometimes I forget these guys are absolute athletic freaks and normal rules don't apply to them.

[Dave D]

I've heard (I forget source) that Lewis didn't lift at all until late in his career.  I find it hard to believe that a man who held the world record in the 100 meters in the late '80s - early '90s never touched a weight while accomplishing this feat, but sometimes I forget these guys are absolute athletic freaks and normal rules don't apply to them.

This.

Lebron, Kobe, Jordan would all still be great basketball players irregardless of the drive and competitiveness.

Lewis, Johnson and Bolt would still be the fastest men of their era even if they were lackadaisical with their training.

Mike Tyson was GREAT even though he coasted for years.

Barry Bonds was a HOFer before steroids.

Training/commitment to the training pushes these guys over the top.

[Bevo]

This.

Lebron, Kobe, Jordan would all still be great basketball players irregardless of the drive and competitiveness.

Lewis, Johnson and Bolt would still be the fastest men of their era even if they were lackadaisical with their training.

Mike Tyson was GREAT even though he coasted for years.

Barry Bonds was a HOFer before steroids.

Training/commitment to the training pushes these guys over the top.

But bbers are nothing without gear, take all of it away, and they’ll be average at best