Polish bench press specialist Stanisław Mentel has been a great reminder that age is no barrier to strength. He also dispels the myth that Masters lifters (i.e., those over age 40) have been competing all their lives. He appeared in his first international competition at 54 and won his first international gold at 60. He has since racked up nine masters world titles, both raw and equipped.
Mentel competed at the 2024 European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Bench Press Championships (EBC) in the classic (“raw”) 105KG class as a Masters 4 (M4) lifter. Mentel extended the world record on his second lift to 183 kilograms and pushed it another 7.5 kilograms with his final bench to 193.5 kilograms.
The only support Mentel used was wrist wraps. Using the maximum width grip permitted in IPF competition, with his forefingers covering the rings on the barbell, Mentel brought the bar to his chest and waited for the “press” command from the center referee. When the command came, Mentel locked the weight out to claim his fifth world record of 2024.
2024 EPF European Classic Bench Press Championships Results — Stanisław Mentel, 105KG
175 kilograms
183 kilograms — IPF Masters 4 World Record
190.5 kilograms — IPF Masters 4 World Record
In May, he traveled to Austin, TX, to compete at the 2024 IPF World Bench Press Championships (WBC) in the classic and equipped categories. He won both, making him a double world champion.
In classic competition at the WBC, Mentel added an astounding 20 kilograms to the existing world record with his opening attempt of 165 kilograms. He was successful with all three lifts and finished at 182.5 kilograms.
This was the record that Mentel broke on his second attempt at the 2024 EBC and extended further on his third. In less than four months, Mentel has added 45.5 kilograms to the bench press world record.
IPF Age Categories
The International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and its affiliates recognize the following Masters age categories in 10-year age bands:
Masters 1 (M1) — age 40-49
Masters 2 (M2) — age 50-59
Masters 3 (M3) — age 60-69
Masters 4 (M4) — age 70 and above
The IPF age categories are based on the birth year rather than the actual birth date, so Mentel passed into the M4 category on Jan. 1, 2024.
The IPF bench press season is over, so Mentel is unlikely to appear on the international platform until the 2025 WBC, held in Drammen, Norway.
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Featured image: @theipf on Instagram
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