Watch This Guy Break a World Bench Press Record… Underwater

One obvious way to make your strength training harder is increase the weight. You can do that easily enough, by adding plates to your barbell. Or, you know… doing the whole thing underwater. Yes, that’s right, underwater lifting is absolutely a real thing—and this guy just set a new world record.

On October 1, 2019, Greg Wittstock set up an underwater bench press rig in St. Charles, Illinois, and invited Guinness World Records to witness his attempt at performing the most consecutive reps of a bench press while completely submerged.

At the time Wittstock was attempting the challenge, the record to beat for most consecutive underwater bench presses was 43 reps. In compliance with GWR regulations, he used a barbell weighing 50 kgs (110.23 pounds).

Wittstock had previously attempted to break the record that September, but his efforts didn’t count as his arms didn’t fully lock out during each press. On htis second attempt, though, he extended his arms on each and every rep, meeting the standards required to set a new official record with 62 reps.

“That was so fun!” He said. “I got 62, and I got full extension all the way, so no problem this time!”

But is weightlifting really better down where it’s wetter? When you’re exercising underwater, you obviously can’t lift as heavy as you can in a gym, as stated in the article linked above. But you are still getting in those all-important concentric and eccentric movements from lifting and lowering the weight, which are crucial components in resistance training. Just make sure you’re able to come up for air.

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