Career
He is the first man to bench press over 700 pounds (3175 kg) raw and set numerous world records throughout his career, including the all-time world record in the raw (unassisted) bench press with 711 lb (323 kg). 1994 Järvenpää, Finland
1995 Frydek-Mistek, Czechoslovakian Republic
1996 Silkeborg, Denmark
1997 Leduc, Canada
1998 Amberg, Germany
Henderson became the first man to bench press over 700 lb raw in May 1996 when he pressed 705 lb in just a t-shirt and made it on the cover of Powerlifting United States of America magazine. Personal records
Powerlifting competition record:
done in official powerlifting meets
Bench press - 711.0 lb (3225 kg) 390 lb (SHW) raw without wrist wraps and belt (July 13, 1997 USPF/IPF)
→ former IPF world record in SHW class (+regardless of weight class) for over 7 years.
Surpassed by Brian Siders"s 712.1 lb (3230 kg) (equipped in singleply bench shirt) in 2004
→ former all-time raw world record in SHW class (+regardless of weight class).
Surpassed by Scot Mendelson"s 713 lbs (3234 kg) (raw) in 2003
→ current all-time drug-tested raw world record in SHW class (+regardless of weight class) since 1997
Gym record (unofficial):
done in the gym according to James himself
Bench press - 744 lb (3375 kg) raw without wrist wraps and belt
Heaviest lift
James Henderson is the current world record holder for heaviest drug tested raw bench press in history and the highest raw bench press ever done in a full powerlifting 3-lift-meet (squat-bench press-deadlift). His record setting lift was 711.0 lbs.
(3225 kg) and was performed on July 13, 1997 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as the 3rd attempt at the USPF Senior Nationals (IPF/USPF sanctioned three-lift-event) under strict IPF-conditions. On the same day, he pressed 683 lb (3098 kg) on the 1st, 699.9 lb (3175 kg) on the 2nd and even went for 722 lb (3275 kg) on the 4th, but barely missed lieutenant
Henderson bench pressed unequipped in the strictest meaning of the word - without belt, without elbow bandages and even without wrist wraps - in just a t-shirt and a singlet.
Although Ted Arcidi was the first man to bench press 700 pounds (3175 kg), Henderson has his place in the record books as the first ever to press 700 pounds raw, without a bench press shirt. The current all-time raw bench press world record of 739 lb (335 kg) by Kirill Sarychev was performed on November 22, 2015 at the SN Public Relations Officer 2015, Russian Federation, Moscow.)
Henderson is a graduate of Mercer University, where he holds a Bachelors degree in theology and psychology. He also attended Albany State University where he played football from 1984 to 1986.
His career as an offensive lineman ended when he blew out his knee.
In 1989 Henderson was convicted of drug trafficking and obstruction of justice, and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He served 3 years at Rivers State Prison before being paroled and later pardoned in 1992.
While at Rivers State he began reading the Bible and became a devoted born again Christian. Now Henderson gives motivational speeches to groups such as students, business leaders, and prisoners.
He currently tours the Georgia Prison System as a speaker for Heartbound Ministries.