Local lifter breaks world record

Ross Johnson

Published Wednesday, July 23, 2008

B.J. Harper is a state champion. He’s a national champion. He’s a record-setter unlike any the Lake Martin area has ever seen.

Harper, 23, broke the world record in his weightlifting class by benching 320 pounds last weekend at the Southern Power Lifting Federation’s Temple Gym Classic in Tuscaloosa.

The event — only Harper’s second professional competition — allowed him to showcase his weightlifting skills and walked away as the owner of the world record in his 148-pound junior weight division.

“It feels great,” Harper said. “It hasn’t really hit me yet that I’m a world record holder.”

Harper, a student at Central Alabama Community College, has been weightlifting for five years.

It’s always been his goal to make his mark on lifting history.

“It was the best feeling ever, walking off the stage knowing I had set out what I wanted to do,” Harper said. This was meant for me, it is my calling.”

Harper attempted to go even further after he broke the record. He added 30 pounds on his third attempt—a total of 350—but wasn’t able to complete the repetition.

“At competitions, I have to hold and pause the weight before lifting it back up,” Harper said. “It’s not a touch and go, so it’s much tougher. If you don’t do it exactly right, you’re disqualified.”

Harper, who said he was able to lift 375 pounds once but in the ‘touch and go’ method, won the national championship, owns two state and world records, and won two professional contests in his weight division—with another in store in October.

Harper will travel to Gatlinburg, Tenn., for the world championships. He has already begun preparing, working out four days a week at 6 a.m.Loc