72-Year-Old Maine Lifter Sets Four State Records
Adults in their seventies who train with weights can still compete at a high level, as one Maine powerlifter's sixth straight title shows.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Body Building
James Hernandez, a 72-year-old from Washburn, won two state championships at the 2026 RPS Maine State Powerlifting Championships held in October 2026 at the Beyond Strength Gym in Falmouth. He set four state records in the raw classic division, and the result gives Maine's masters lifters a new benchmark for competitive longevity.
Why it matters
Hernandez's results show that strength training remains a measurable, competitive pursuit well into the seventies, a point relevant to Maine's large older population. His sixth straight state powerlifting title signals sustained performance rather than a single peak.
The figures come from sanctioned competition results at the 2026 RPS Maine State Powerlifting Championships, where Hernandez competed in the men's masters amateur 70-74 age group, 242-pound class, raw classic division. In September 2025 he recorded a 315-pound squat and an 855-pound combined total at a Maine meet, and at the 2025 National Senior Games in Des Moines he won gold and set four national records.
The players
James Hernandez
A 72-year-old Washburn, Maine powerlifter and member of the Maine Sports Hall of Fame who holds eight State of Maine Records and two world records.
Beyond Strength Gym
The Falmouth, Maine training facility that hosted the 2026 RPS Maine State Powerlifting Championships.
The details
Raw classic powerlifting uses no wraps or knee sleeves, so lifts rely entirely on the athlete's own muscular strength and technique. Hernandez competed at a bodyweight of 225 pounds within the 242-pound class. Records in this division are measured against strict equipment rules, which makes them a direct test of unassisted strength.
Timeline
September 2025: Hernandez set multiple state records at the RPS Maine State Championships in Falmouth.
2025: He won gold and set four national records at the National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa.
April 2025: He won his second straight Vermont Senior State Games Powerlifting Championship.
October 2026: The 2026 RPS Maine State Powerlifting Championships were held at Beyond Strength Gym in Falmouth.
Health Landscape
Masters powerlifting, which groups competitors by age, has become a recognized arena for measuring strength in older adults. Results like Hernandez's add to a body of competition data showing that resistance training can sustain high performance across the seventh decade of life.
Hernandez's results illustrate that structured strength training can support performance well into older age, which is worth raising with your doctor if you are considering a resistance program. Adults of any age starting a new lifting routine should discuss their current health and any limitations with a clinician first.
The takeaway
Competitive results at age 72 show that strength can be built and maintained across decades of training. If you are interested in resistance work, ask your physician which progression makes sense for your health history.
Further reading
For more on strength competition and training, explore our Body Building coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The County.
