Lee Moran, USA – Powerlifter (1st 1000lb Squat)
Today, powerlifting is dominated by gear, but back in the USPF senior nationals in 1984, the first 1000 pound squat took place!
It was Lee Moran! He was 5’6″, thickly muscled, but a big waist! He wore a Marathon squat suit, which was a polyester suit. His hurricane wraps by pat’s power products, were elastic. Out of this type of gear the lifters only got about 25lbs to their present max. There were No monolifts or anything back then.
Now to the attempts….
Well, Lee opens with 945. He walked out, he was staggering, stumbling, the crowd was in a frenzy! He passes slap out! Falls, spotters cant touch the weight! He falls flat on his back! In fear they scream “nooooo, oh my god”!!!
Despite this real TV like tragedy, he continues to fight like a champion. Time for second attempt! He unracks the weight, staggers out again, his nose explodes with blood! Lee is gasping for air, every breath, the blood is flying, he takes a deep breath, and descends to a rock bottom squat, creeps out of the hole, so slowly, it was one of the hardest gut wrenching squats I have ever seen! He shakes at the top, but with a loud bellow, he finishes! Lee is beet red, and gasping, and blood every where! The crowd gets insane and this only increases the attitude to this hardcore powerlifting freak scene!!! Now, Here is where it gets good.
Third attempt, 1003! Lee comes out, looks to the crowd, and bellows, and screams for some support. He staggers out, crowd is going nuts! Lee is so red, it doesn’t look real! Then POW, the collar snaps, all the 100 lb plates slide off one side, whipping the bar across Lees back!, slinging plates everywhere, lee covers up for protection, spotters running etc! What a sight!
They decide to grant him a fourth attempt! Due to faulty equipment! 1003 again! Lee staggers out, with the crowd at this time just in pure pandemonium! He sets up.. nose explodes again and gets the squat signal. He descends again so slowly and rock bottom depth! He starts up, and to everyone’s surprise, it’s a smoke show! Pow, he explodes to lock-out! The crowd goes absolutely wild!