Daiki Kodama, a powerlifter weighing just 11 stone lifted a sensational 225 kilograms on the bench press, a new world record for his weight class.The amount he lifted is three times over his bodyweight, and as a result, he was assisted by his teammates who acted as spotters due to the elevated risk of injury.The Japanese powerlifter competes in the International Powerlifting Federation. IPF competitions are drug-tested, and supportive equipment is kept to a minimum, however in Kodama’s case he could use wrist straps and a singlet.The 40-year-old was the previous record holder too when he set a 211.5kg deadlift, while he also has a best squat record of 170kg.This new world record will add to the 2017 world record set by Kodama at the Asian Powerlifting & Bench Press Expo, where he benched 210.5kg in the Open 83kg class.

A study published in “The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that bench pressing like Kodama did (with the help of spotters) boosts how much a person can lift.

Either way, without spotters, the risk of injury would have been significantly higher, due to the big amount the 11 stone athlete was lifting. Last month for example, a French weightlifter broke her arm in two places at the European Weightlifting Championship. 

Thirty-one-year-old Gaelle Nayo Ketchanke was attempting to lift 110kg- her career personal best- in the women’s 76kg category in Batumi, Georgia. She failed to complete her lift the first two times, and on her third attempt her left arm buckled and gave away. She was rushed to the hospital for surgery but incredibly still walked away with the bronze medal.

And let's not forget the Russian powerlifter who broke his leg in three places while trying to squat 250kg recently. The perils of weightlifting can be extremely severe!