81-Year Old Richard ‘Dick’ G. Austin Of Rumford Breaks Bench Press Record

81-year old Richard 'Dick' G. Austin of Rumford, Maine just won his eight world title this past Tuesday. He was at Bally's Resort and Casino in Las Vegas competing in the World Bench Press and Dead Lift Championships. Austin was competing in the 220-pound class Master Division, for powerlifters ranging in age from 80 to 84.

Austin broke his own world record with a winning bench press of 363 pounds! Last year he won with a bench press of 352 pounds. After winning his eight world title, Austin was inducted into the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters Hall Of Fame. Richard was also inducted into the Maine Sports Hall Of Fame in 1999.

Austin is a Korean War veteran with the 82nd Airborne Division and was an employee with a local paper mill for 40 years before he retired. Austin began his weightlifting career nearly 70 years ago and won his first competition in 1947!

With eight world titles under his belt, Austin doesn't plan on slowing down at all, even though he turns 82 in March. He plans on competing February 2nd in Portland and again next June in a national competition. His current goal is to bench-press 402 pounds in time for the June competition.