A local lifter has achieved his third world record after a life-changing injury.
Branden Ha, 45, competes in bench press on a national and international level and recently broke the world record in his age and weight class in the Mr. Olympia contest in Las Vegas last year.
Ha benched 392 pounds in the raw bench-press event, one pound over the world record, for the 45 to 49-age division in the 165-pound weight class in the International Powerlifting League.
The world record is 43 pounds lighter than the U.S. Powerlifting Association world record he broke in 2018 where Ha lifted 435 pounds.
However, Mr. Olympia was still a huge achievement after an injury at work changed his career path.
Ha was working security at Walmart in 2019 when he chased a thief, who fired a gun at him. Ha slipped and landed on his elbow, permanently damaging his tricep.
“About two years after I was injured, I decided to work to qualify for the Mr. Olympia contest after training from the bottom up,” Ha said. “The most I lifted was 375, so I was much weaker, but still in the area to compete. I saw that the world record for my age was 391 and decided if I trained hard enough, I could make it happen.”
Ha was excited to reach his goal, especially when doctors told him he may never compete again. Three years after his injury, he wants to lift in the 400s once again.
“I’m missing a whole chunk of tricep, so I don’t know if I’ll ever be 100%,” Ha said. “I’ve accepted whatever happens, but I still want to compete and still have numbers I want to reach.”
Ha trains five days a week and bench-presses two days a week to keep up his regimen and keep getting better, although he is more in-tuned with his body.
“Now that I’m older, my shoulders and joints are getting sore, so my training is a lot different,” Ha said. “I hold back and listen to my body, because I cannot push through it like before. My mind has to be in tuned with my body, so if my mind tells me to slow down, I listen.”
Ha trains at Penn Fitness and Training Center where he spends time lifting as well as talking to other power lifters to encourage them to keep at it, regardless of setbacks.
“I want to inspire anyone, that no matter what you go through, you can accomplish anything,” Ha said. “When I got hurt, I thought it was the end for me. It was depressing, but that despair is what helped me keep going. It brings joy to my life that I can inspire my kids as well as other young competitors.”
When he came back to the gym a month after the injury, Ha had to start with the bar weight of 45 pounds. It took two and a half years to get back to where he is now.
“I was never good at school, but I was good at this. After the injury, I wanted to prove to everyone that I could keep going,” Ha said. “This balances my life and brings me joy, so I can’t stop. While I’m taking a breather now, I will always love the gym in general and I’m thankful this is not the end of my career.”
After accepting his invitation to Mr. Olympia and breaking the world record, Ha is taking a break from contests and is now spending time training his daughter in bench press.
Those interested can follow Ha on his social media pages.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com