Jim Williams (powerlifter)

James "Jim" Williams (1941 – February 19, 2007) was an American powerlifter considered one of the strongest men of his era. He is best known for his world record raw bench press of 675 lbs (306.2 kg), performed at the 1972 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Senior National Powerlifting Championships in Columbus, Ohio. This lift remained unbroken for several decades.

Williams competed in the super heavyweight class. Beyond his exceptional bench press, he possessed significant strength in other powerlifting movements. He competed and won multiple championships during his powerlifting career. He served time in prison following an incident in 1973 and his powerlifting career was significantly impacted by this.

His training methods were often unconventional and heavily emphasized explosive power. After his release from prison, he made sporadic comebacks to powerlifting, although never reaching the heights of his earlier career. His 675 lb bench press continues to be a benchmark for raw bench press strength and he remains a legendary figure in powerlifting history.