South Carolina strength athlete keeps setting age-group records after stroke

W. Thomas Smith Jr., a 67-year-old South Carolina power athlete and Military Hall of Famer, has continued posting new bench, leg press and hold records after a serious stroke in 2024. His lifts are being tracked against global strength standards, putting his numbers among the top tier for men his age.

Why it matters: - Smith’s results show how far a veteran lifter can push age-group strength standards even after a major health setback. - The numbers place a South Carolina athlete in elite territory for his age, based on global strength rankings. - Smith’s profile also adds attention to Columbia, South Carolina, as a strength-sports hub.

What happened: - W. Thomas Smith Jr. continued setting and breaking gym strength records at age 67 after a serious stroke that required hospitalization in May 2024. - A Sept. 1 article on Columbia, South Carolina, as a strength and power-sports center highlighted Smith as stronger than 99.9% of men in his age category worldwide, based on the strength-level calculator at the global strength standard tool. - Smith recorded a 315-pound bench press on July 17, verified by One Life Fitness general manager Brandon Mohtassem. - Smith also logged 305 pounds for two bench reps and 295 pounds for three reps, verified by former Penn State cornerback and One Life Fitness trainer A.J. Wallace. - On Sept. 2, Smith set an age-specific South Carolina record of 833 pounds on the leg-press sled at One Life Fitness locations in South Carolina. - Smith later improved his leg-press record, topping a previous best of 828 pounds.

The details: - Smith’s recent bench work also includes multiple reps of 225, 235, 245 and 275 pounds, which were cited as elite-category numbers for his age. - Smith hit 225 pounds for six repetitions on the incline bench, another elite-level result for a 67-year-old. - Smith also completed an unofficial 60 pushups, which the strength-level calculator placed in elite territory for his age. - Smith’s most recent static-hold personal record came on Sept. 7, when he locked out 425 pounds for eight seconds before reracking the bar. - Smith’s static holds involve unracking a weight-loaded barbell on the bench press and holding it overhead for 8-10 seconds. - In early July, Smith was named one of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department bench press champions after he and 60 other South Carolina strongmen, plus a few out-of-state lifters, benched 250 pounds for reps tied to America’s 250th birthday. - Smith completed eight reps of 250 pounds in that event. - Since then, Smith has benched 235 pounds for 16 reps.

Between the lines: - The reporting leans on strength-level percentile rankings to frame Smith’s lifts as exceptional, not just locally impressive. - Smith’s story blends athletic performance with public-service credentials, which helps explain why the achievement has drawn attention beyond gym circles. - The stroke detail makes the strength gains more notable because the article presents them as recovery-era performance, not a lifetime peak.

What's next: - Smith appears to be continuing to build on his age-group records rather than protecting old marks. - Future lifts will likely be measured against the same percentile-based strength standards that have amplified his recent records. - Smith is also identified as a 2025 inductee into the South Carolina Military Veterans Hall of Fame, an RCSD special deputy, a war correspondent, an international military analyst and a 2019 recipient of the Order of the Palmetto.

The bottom line: - At 67, Smith is still posting lifts that rank among the best in his age group, even after a major stroke and hospitalization.