Powerlifter dies after dropping bar on chest during bench

[PLftw]

it says in the training session he slipped 160kg from his hands but the spotters got it.

 

[D3thr0n3d K1ng]

Would spotters have made a difference? He literally just dropped it in a heartbeat.

Watch teh vid. Theres 3 spotters. One ehlps him lift it off the bench then walks away as he tries to rep it, one just stands there and doesnt have his hand under the bar, and the other one actually spots him.

 

[Cratos]

This is exactly why false grip bench is illegal in most PL federations.

Yeah, it could never happen with your thumbs wrapped around the bar. It certainly wouldn't happen to an experienced, world class lifter with his thumbs wrapped around the bar.

Wait. Fuck.

 

[Cratos]

And Cratos, that's a tasteless joke after a tragic death.

Joke/jōk/ Noun: A thing that someone says to cause amusement or laughter, esp. a story with a funny punchline.

All I saw in my post was factual information.

 

[Ronin Caveman]

You see now I'm paranoid. Wish I never saw this thread.

I bench on my own all the time well over 300 lbs. I'm never pushing my limits because Wendler's 5/3/1 doesn't call for 1RM's, but still this story has me freaked out.

I can say this has never happened to me and I've never seen this happend to anyone. Never thought it was possible to have a bar slip with the proper grip.

 

[D3thr0n3d K1ng]

I bench by myself all the time and have never had the bar slip.

 

[Brutal Bajan]

N/m

 

[Big Sissy]

I dont think the spotters could have made a huge difference but they should have at least been in the right place and ready for a mistake. The fact that they werent where they were supposed to be draws blame on them. But i think even if they were where they were supposed to be it wouldnt have made a huge difference. But we'll never know.

I occasionally spot ppl at my gym. And i look for signs of weakness or slowing before i wraps hands around the bar. If someone dropped the bar like that while im spotting them, theyd be f-ed. I realize competition is different from the gym but i just dont think most spotters are looking for a bar drop like that. Ive never dropped a bar like that and i push my limits all the time alone

 

[Tosa]

Malanichev dropped 683 lbs on his chest and then deadlifted 400 kg.

Just sayin'.

Here's a time machine. Now you can go back and tell him not to die because someone dropped more weight on their chest, and was able to deadlift afterwards.

 

[samb867]

To be fair, this article has people scared. Good to hear about someone not only surviving but beasting a deadlift afterwards.

Also, there's plenty of blame in this story. He dropped a significantly lower weight but was allowed to move up and the spotters weren't ready for a second, heavier failure. Lunacy.

 

[redaxe]

Yeah, it could never happen with your thumbs wrapped around the bar. It certainly wouldn't happen to an experienced, world class lifter with his thumbs wrapped around the bar.

First time I saw the video, the caption said he was using a false grip.

Anyway, I'm not wrong. The increased likelihood of someone's hands slipping and dropping the bar on their chest is exactly why false grip bench is banned in most PL federations.

That's fucked up that it happened to Malanichev, though, even with his thumbs wrapped. I guess when the weight is that heavy, if you fuck up the bar path and your wrists get out of position, your thumbs aren't doing shit to keep that thing up.

 

[LegioTitan]

I've always been surprised there isn't a simple chain/aramid fiber belt connected to a speed/torque sensitive catch mechanism(lke a seat belt) that grabs the bar if it drops too quickly in the bench or in the squat. It seems like such a basic thing to develop. Surely someone can do it.

 

[KnuckleSangwich]

I have always loathed the "hands hovering around the end of the bar" side spot technique. At heavy weights it's extremely dangerous. What kind of leverage do you have when someone quickly fails >400lbs? Most of the time when things like this happen with heavy weight the side spotters aren't even able to get the weight off the lifter by lifting from the end of the bar, it's just ridiculous that this is still even practiced.

If anyone ever goes >400lbs in the gym I train at (doesn't happen often) we always have two "cradled" side spotters (see below) and a lift off spotter.

Most of the time we're much closer to the weight than this guy is. I know god forbid your arm nudges the weight on the way up/down potentially giving 2oz of assistance. The fact of the matter is if you're close to the weight, paying attention and in the cradle position and the lifter loses it you may not be able to react fast enough to save it from hitting him but you're going to get it off of him a hell of a lot quicker and may stop it from compressing fully, potentially saving a life.

 

[LegioTitan]

Yeah the few times I've had to provide a three-position type squat spot I cradle my hands and watch just the end of the bar and try to listen for impending failure. I think some spotters are paying too much attention to the lift itself as opposed to taking their job seriously.
Which is why I will always squat with bumpers if the option is available. Oh what? Going to miss? Walk away.

 

[KnuckleSangwich]

Yeah the few times I've had to provide a three-position type squat spot I cradle my hands and watch just the end of the bar and try to listen for impending failure. I think some spotters are paying too much attention to the lift itself as opposed to taking their job seriously.
Which is why I will always squat with bumpers if the option is available. Oh what? Going to miss? Walk away.

For lighter weights end of the bar is fine. If someone is benching or squatting heavy or going for a big 1RM I like the cradle. Increases my leverage and decreases potential response time to failure.

You're right though I watch the bar path more than anything. I'll check the lifter out of the corner of my eye but it's all about what that bar is doing. The reason the drops are so tough is they happen so damn fast. "Oh everythings fineeee...and you're fuckin' dead"

 

[calvus]

Reminded me of this:

 

[KnuckleSangwich]

Let's be honest that guy is a dumbass and was asking for it. And he also most surely, didn't die.

If the lifter in the OP straight up dropped the weight relying on the spotters to catch it I guess he was askin' for it too. Can't imagine anyone with half a brain would do that though.

 

[PWR1982]

Couldn't they just use safeties? If placed at a relatively low height, there's 0% chance they would interfere with anything, but in an accident like this it would save the lifter.

 

[KnuckleSangwich]

Couldn't they just use safeties? If placed at a relatively low height, there's 0% chance they would interfere with anything, but in an accident like this it would save the lifter.

There's talk of this. Similar to taking a rack height for squats.

 

[CRZA]

Reminded me of this:

ouch.

This is how its done