SPORTS News

Gunny Green benches 661 pounds to win 2nd World Title

Gunnery Sergeant Michael Green of Marine Air Training Support Group 21 captured his second consecutive world championship, on November 18, at the World Association of Bench Pressers and Dead Lifters World Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 Amongst an assembly of 720 of the world's best lifters, from 20 different countries, Gunnery Sergeant Green prevailed in the Elite Open and Sub-Master 220 pound division.  He began his lifting on November 17^th in the Sub-Master division. Gunny Green was hoping to bench press a huge number to carry over into the next day in the Elite Open division. He opened up with a 639.2 pound bench press and nailed it solid.  This opening lift would be 70 pounds over what was to be the second place finish. He went for 679 pounds on his second lift, attempting to break his own world record, when a near tragedy occurred. On the upward stroke of the attempt, Gunny Green fired off his chest so fast that he lost control of the weight and it came down fast towards his head. The safety bars and the four additional spotters caught the weight inches from his skull. That did not stop the Gunny, he came back and tried a third attempt but the result was a miss. The end result of the first day - Gunny one, competition zero.

Not being satisfied with the previous day"s lift, Gunny Green came back the following day and lifted in the Elite Open 220 pound division. This time he opened up with slightly more than three times his body weight, 661 pounds. He nailed it. On his second attempt he went for his record again, but this time he wanted secure it even more. He raised the bar to 705 pounds. He got out off his grove on the second attempt and went for the same weight on his third attempt. He lowered the bar to his chest, the head judge gave the press command and the weight began to rise steadily. Gunny Green was two inches from complete lock out when he finally gave out. All in all it was a good two days of lifting. The Gunny had four 600 plus pound lifts and two 700 pound lifts on his arms and chest in two days. A feat rarely tried by any lifter. Gunny Green had just secured his second win and second world championship victory. He completely destroyed his competition by nearly one hundred pounds on day two.

 With this victory Gunnery Sergeant Green automatically qualifies for the World Championships next year. He says, "I have been blessed to only have one loss since I started competing. My drive comes from my family and from the Corps. The drive I have was implanted in me in boot camp. Once I am focused it is time to close with, destroy and get to the objective. That objective is victory. Failure is not an option and never will be.