The advent of bench press shirts, which support the lifter's shoulders and provide upward force, have increased records significantly since 1985.
[3] The women's equipped bench press record belongs to|Avory Brown]], from New Zealand, who lifted 317.5 kg (700 lb) (2023, IPL standards),[4][5] and the raw bench press record belongs to April Mathis from the United States, who lifted 207.5 kg (457.4 lb) (2016, Southern Powerlifting Federation standards).
Previous records which hadn't been set within the newly established rules, were reset (for example, elbow bandages had been allowed prior to the formation of the IPF, but were later outlawed).
These are the official bench press records after the IPF-reset until they surpass the previously set mark of 306 kg (675 lb) by Jim Williams.
* note: Anthony Clark performed a controversial 800-pound bench press at the Arnold Classic in 1997, 2 years before Tim Isaac.