By ASHLEY COLLMAN
How much can you bench press? If it's less than 187 pounds - a 91-year-old man in Arizona has got you beat.
Sy Perlis of Surprise, Arizona competed in the National Push-Pull Bench Press and Dead Lift Championships on Friday, and broke the association record for the 90-and-over age division of 135 pounds - a record that had been in place since 2005. Usually competitors are given three chances to set their press high, but Perlis was offered five chances when they saw he was on a roll. His highest press was 187.2 pounds.
Perlis started weightlifting when he was 60-years-old but didn't start competing until five years ago. Perlis said that weightlifting was something he got a lot of satisfaction out of and 'it made me feel good, and it was good for me.'
'It gave me the opportunity to do something, to test myself for one thing, and I didn't have to run around to do it, as you would in some other sports,' Perlis told The Arizona Republic.
While Perlis' age may seem like a reason for concern, experts say there's not much to worry about. 'The risk of leading a sedentary lifestyle is much greater than anything related to exercise,' said Chhanda Dutta, chief of the Clinical Gerontology Branch at the National Institute on Aging. 'I think it's important for people to realize that age alone doesn't determine the intensity of your workout.' Perlis has been injured a few times, but claims it wasn't the weightlifting that caused it. He had surgeries to get a pacemaker and fix a hernia, in addition to being diagnosed with acute arthritis.
His ailments caused his trainer to hold him from competing last year. 'His health comes first,' Perlis' trainer Reid Solar said. 'I do that with my younger guys, too. Age doesn't matter in that case.' Even his doctor is a supporter. He knows about his weightlifting hobby and has told Perlis, 'If you can do it - do it.' But Perlis' activity goes beyond just keeping himself healthy. It's inspiring others. 'We've had a lot of lifters in their middle 80s, late 80s, and occasionally we get one 90 and over, but they've never inspired people (like Perlis has),' said Gus Rethwisch, president of the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters and the event organizer.
While he was competing, Perlis was cheered on with shouts of 'You got this, Sy! Come on, Sy!' After the event several people came up to Perlis to congratulate him on his extraordinary feat. 'You put me to shame,' 75-year-old Donald Judd said. 'I'll be lucky if I get 121 (pounds) today.' His wife, Joan Perlis, 69, is just one of the people he's had a healthy influence on. 'I always say if it weren't for my husband, I'd be at home watching TV and eating bonbons. He's my motivator. He makes me work out too,' she said.
