Barth proves he's Army Strong

Soldier equals post bench-press record with 455-pound lift en route to winning the 2008 overall championship

Matt Smith

Northwest Guardian

Though not the largest competitor at the 2008 Fort Lewis Annual Bench Press Championship held May 31 at the McVeigh Sports and Fitness Center indoor tennis courts, David Barth proved to be the strongest lifter of the day, pressing a record-tying 455 pounds.

His impressive lift not only tied him for the Fort Lewis record for the 199-220 pound weight class, it also earned him the overall championship.

“This (contest) represents the essence of Army Strong,” said Lt. Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., who is the commanding general for I Corps and Fort Lewis. “If you want to see Army Strong then come to a weightlifting competition.”

After tying the post record on his second attempt, Barth attempted to shatter the record by pushing up 540 pounds, 35 pounds more than his personal best of 505, which he did while deployed with A Company, 864th Engineer Battalion in Afghanistan.

With a high arch in his back, Barth lifted more than a quarter ton from the rack and lowered it down to his chest. Once the head judge gave the command to lift the weight back up, Barth was only able to raise it a few inches before the spotters had to help him rack the weights resulting in a failed attempt.

Though he was unable to break his record, Barth was all smiles after winning his second Fort Lewis best lifter trophy.

“It was a lot of hard training in Afghanistan,” said Barth of why he was able to win the championship.

He said while in Afghanistan he was able to not only work on his own power lifting, but was able to get a few others involved as well.

“We lifted whenever we got the chance,” he said. “About four months before we got to come home we went to a little FOB and started lifting again over there on uneven floors.”

Barth competes in the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters and will be competing in tournaments in Washington and his home state of Pennsylvania in the near future. He said his ultimate goal is to eventually compete in the World’s Strongest Man competition, but realizes he has a ways to go before he can do that.

“My main focus is just to be the strongest out there,” he said. “(The Strongest Man competition) is years down the road. The biggest thing is training and good diet. It all comes down to focus. It almost becomes like a job, (lifting) is not just a release anymore.”

Several other lifters were able to break the 400-pound barrier, and with a press of 425 pounds Adam Shepherd won first place for the 220-plus pound weight class.