Former Marine lifts elite weights after strokes

By AI, Created 4:44 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – W. Thomas Smith Jr., a 67-year-old former Marine and S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame inductee, says he has reached elite-level bench and leg-press milestones in Columbia, South Carolina, nearly two years after multiple strokes. The lifts highlight his recovery, long training history and a broader message about lifelong fitness and stroke resilience.

Why it matters: - Smith’s lifts show how serious recovery, training and adaptation can still produce elite strength numbers after major health setbacks. - The milestones also land during National Stroke Awareness Month, adding attention to stroke recovery and long-term fitness. - The numbers are notable for Smith’s age group and for the scale of the weights involved.

What happened: - W. Thomas Smith Jr. posted a 280-pound one-rep-max bench press on May 4, 2026, at a One Life Fitness location in Columbia, South Carolina. - Smith then leg-pressed 703 pounds for two reps on May 7, topping a previous 683-pound, three-rep leg-press mark from Aug. 29. - Smith turned 67 on April 30 and marked nearly two years since he suffered multiple strokes that hospitalized him in mid-May 2024. - Smith is a former U.S. Marine infantry leader, counterterrorism expert and 2025 inductee in the S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame.

The details: - Smith’s 280-pound bench press came after a prior week that included 275 pounds for two reps and 225 pounds for 10 reps. - A weightlifting calculator at Strength Level classifies a 67-year-old male benching 280 pounds as stronger than 98% of male lifters worldwide and calls the lift “elite.” - Smith said his best bench press in his twenties was 305 pounds in the 1980s. - Smith took a near 20-year break from powerlifting, focusing instead on running, backcountry hiking and speed bag work. - A broken rib from a parachute landing at age 50 pushed Smith back into the gym, but he did not fully commit to bench pressing until nearly age 60. - Smith said recovery now takes about six days, so he benches flat and incline only once a week. - Smith avoids traditional squats and deadlifts because of decades-old knee injuries. - Smith said the leg-press records are unofficial because the lifts were not part of sanctioned events, even though they were verified at 1LF centers in South Carolina. - Smith also said he can do 50 to 54 push-ups in less than 60 seconds. - Smith said his training routine includes daily stretching, eating well, rest, heavy static holds, kettlebell work, full-body training, prayer and encouragement of others.

Between the lines: - Smith frames the lifts as personal milestones, not competitive powerlifting achievements. - Smith said he lifts for health, wellness, longevity and recreation, and that he is only competing with himself and a few close friends. - The story is as much about persistence as performance, with stroke recovery, age, and old injuries all part of the context. - The public praise from martial arts and military figures reinforces the idea that Smith’s story is being treated as an example of disciplined aging and recovery, not just gym numbers.

What’s next: - Smith said he is still pushing beyond personal records and toward goals he has not yet reached. - May 12 marks the two-year anniversary of his stroke hospitalization, a date Smith also links to a family Revolutionary War anniversary. - Smith said he intends to keep training, improving and encouraging others while working through ongoing stroke fatigue and injury recovery.

The bottom line: - Smith’s latest lifts put a stroke survivor in elite territory for his age, while underscoring how long-term consistency can reshape what recovery looks like after 60.