On June 26, 2022, strongman Jacob Finerty completed a block press of 175.5 kilograms (386.6 pounds) during the 2022 Wrath of the Strongest contest in Sacramento, CA. With this strength mark, Finerty now possesses the World Record block press as an Open competitor. He surpasses 2020 America’s Strongest Man (ASM) Champion Marcus Crowder, who captured a 172.3-kilogram (380-pound) block press at the 2022 Strongman Showdown in Fairmont, WV.
Finerty did not disclose his specific body weight for the record block press, but he did don a lifting belt, knee wraps, and elbow wraps for the successful lift. Check out the feat below, courtesy of strongwoman Nadia Stowers‘ Instagram profile:
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To some athletes, the block press is a notoriously difficult challenge because the “block” implement often has an awkward shape and is clunky to handle. There is no standardized way to complete a block press. Many find themselves cleaning and pressing the implement like they would for a log press or even using their bellies to put the block in a front rack position for an overhead press.
The footage of Finerty’s lift makes it appear he opted for the latter overhead press strategy.
Finerty’s Moment of Triumph
Per his Instagram profile, Finerty refers to himself as “the strongest dude you’ve never heard of.” Though, with functional strength feats like this World Record block press and a World Record natural stone press of 145.1 kilograms (320 pounds) from the 2021 805 Strongest in Newbury Park, CA — that moniker might not apply for much longer.
Finerty understandably had a lot of emotions in discussing the path to his new record over social media.
“386.6 pound World Record Block Press block is one of the hardest implements to press in my opinion, and that’s why it means a lot to me,” Finerty writes. “The goal today was 406 [pounds], but the Sacramento heat said hell no. It took me several attempts because I couldn’t stop passing out.”
As Finerty struggled to lock out the record rep, he notes that his coach — former ASM Champion (2011) Travis Ortmayer — was instrumental in getting across the de facto finish line.
“Having the legendary Travis Ortmayer [there] was gigantic,” Finerty writes. “His words were as intense as his competition style. On my last attempt, he saw that I was falling forward, so he moved the platform without asking me. On that attempt, I pressed it and got it.”
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What’s Next
Finerty has not shared when his next competition will be at the time of this writing. A quick perusal of the training he features on his social media would indicate that whatever Finerty’s next contest is, it will likely feature some sort of potentially awkward implement.
Featured image: @jacobfinerty on Instagram
