An AP story today notes Pat Robertson’s website states he leg pressed 2,000 pounds three years ago at age 73. Great doubts have been cast by experts that anybody half his age could have done this.
What amused me was it quoted the website as describing the feat, saying "…two men loaded the leg-press machine with 2,000 pounds and then let it down on Mr Robertson, who pushed it up one rep and let it go back down again (emphasis mine).
Is there such a thing as “one repetition?” My dictionary says it is “an act that repeats.”
Oh, well, considering the source…
Perhaps they should lower two tons down on him and then just walk away.
I’ve always been impressed by how much people can lift with their legs. I’m a thin thing, and I can do leg presses (full sets of 10-12) with 300-350lbs.
I’ve seen guys at the gym (very muscular guys, albeit) who leg press 800lbs (for full sets).
Could one of those guys do ONE rep of 2K? Perhaps. Robertson? Uh, I’d be surprised.
Just for purposes of comparison, my training partner - 26, 210lbs at 13% bodyfat, steroid monkey - can do 600 or so for one rep, after which feat he usually vomits into a bucket we prepare for him beforehand.
2000lbs is alot especially for someone his age, but I used to love that machine in High school because you could really load up the weight and impress people. I lifed recreationally for a few years, and when I quit i was up to 950lbs (More than once, but not full sets). Had I have been serious about it I’m sure I could have easily added 500 more pounds within a year.
And I while 90% of my strength is in my legs, I’ve never been one of those big muscular guys you see working out. I alos somehow managed to keep my wimpy upper body.
All leg press machines are different. Some are even at a 45 degree angle. I’m sure most Dopers can do the math there. But that’s like sinTHETA something something and it means you’re not really lifting all that weight.
I’ve never worked out particularly hard core, and last month I maxed my leg press at 875. Same week, maxed bench at 185. I’m not that strong, but my legs are quite nice.
For the record, for me (and most, i think) maxxing is what you can do one time only and not break yourself doing. I can do 600 on a leg press dozens of times.
Someday, I’ll have weights and get to work out regularly.
Isn’t that the standard machine? I’ve heard of vertical leg presses, but I’ve never seen one, and I think that anyone who hears the term “leg press” will think of the angled one.
It’s impressive if it’s true, but there’s a reason why the squat is used as a test of strength rather than the leg press…
Pat Robertson once punched a hole in a cow just to see who was coming up the road! He once inhaled a seagull! His family crest is a picture of a barracuda eating Neil Armstrong!
My dad said that when he was young he’d leg-press a Model T truck. He said he’d lie on the ground on his back and lift up the rear end of the truck by pressing it with his legs. How much does the back end of a Model T truck weigh? I doubt if it’s anywhere near a ton.