A high school student bench pressed an incredible 330 pounds in a new competition at Westview Secondary, and set the school record.
Aiden Wong got big cheers from hundreds of gobsmacked students who gathered in the gym to watch the contest, and livestream the action.
Wong trains at Fitness Unlimited, started doing pushups in Grade 7, and has been working out consistently since late last school year. He is a competitive power lifter, who won at the B.C. Powerlifing Championships in April.
He describes the gym as his happy place, where he can set aside anxiety, and focus on his impressive feats.
The 330 pounds was the heaviest bench press Wong has ever done, in that discipline.
The girls division winner was Sydney Swenor, and the staff division winner was Chianne Ebadi.
There were about 20 boys and girls who took part, and seven staff members.
Vice principal Jeremy Lendvoy started the Lift Off Bench Press Contest.
“I’m new to the school this year. I did this in Surrey, for the Surrey School District, and I wanted to bring this here. This is the inaugural Lift-Off, the first one ever,” he said.
He said the competition gives more kids a “chance to shine” at school, and strength training teaches kids discipline, resilience, nutrition, and “it’s a great lift.”
Lendvoy said the 330 pounds is an incredible lift, especially for a 17-year-old young man who weighs less than 200 pounds.
Having done the contest for five years at Queen Elizabeth Secondary, with huge wrestlers and other athletes taking part, the most he had seen lifted by a student was 295 pounds.
So he anticipates Wong set a mark that will stand for a long time.
Graham and Richy Chan, owners of Cutting Edge Nutrition, was at the event as a sponsor, and donated more than $1,000 worth of prizes for the competitors and giveaways.