Came across this in an old article I had assigned, Mr. Clarks accomplishments on the bench are simply incredible:
In 1983, his first record was set at the tender age of 15 - 370 (how much were you benching at 15?). Could he possibly know he would eventually be good for double this? Then at age 16, he did 440. At 17, he set a high school record at 520. At 18 he did 600 (almost 100-pound jumps up to age 18 - whoo!), at 19 he hit 612, at 22 he did 650, 23 he did 675, did 700 at 24, 720 at 25, and at 26, he did 735. End of story? Just taking a breath...
He then he went on to do 748 and 750 in Texas at the Great Bench Press of America Meet. He also attempted 800 here; He had a whopping 14 attempts at 800 (a little tough on the wrists!) and then in 96 he hit both 770 and 780 at the Mr. Olympia and then 785!
At the Arnold Classic he got the whites for the controversial 800-pound bench in 1997!
A simply amazing career! Not currently competing but worth a salute!!! (and his 1,100-pound squats aint too shabby either..)
In 1983, his first record was set at the tender age of 15 - 370 (how much were you benching at 15?). Could he possibly know he would eventually be good for double this? Then at age 16, he did 440. At 17, he set a high school record at 520. At 18 he did 600 (almost 100-pound jumps up to age 18 - whoo!), at 19 he hit 612, at 22 he did 650, 23 he did 675, did 700 at 24, 720 at 25, and at 26, he did 735. End of story? Just taking a breath...

He then he went on to do 748 and 750 in Texas at the Great Bench Press of America Meet. He also attempted 800 here; He had a whopping 14 attempts at 800 (a little tough on the wrists!) and then in 96 he hit both 770 and 780 at the Mr. Olympia and then 785!
At the Arnold Classic he got the whites for the controversial 800-pound bench in 1997!
A simply amazing career! Not currently competing but worth a salute!!! (and his 1,100-pound squats aint too shabby either..)
