91-Year-Old Arizona Man Breaks Weightlifting Record

Lifted 187.2 pounds, a 90-and-over record

PHOENIX—It was time for Sy Perlis to break another world record.

The 91-year-old weightlifting champ from Surprise, Ariz., stepped up to the firetruck-red bench at the front of the room. With a light push, Perlis rolled onto his back, reached for the metal bar above his head and hoisted the 187.2-pound weight over his chest.

Perlis broke a World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters record in the 90-and-over age division Saturday at the National Push-Pull Bench Press and Dead Lift Championships in Phoenix. The final lift broke an association record of 135 pounds that had been in place since 2005.