James “Chico” Hernandez, on the mat, deadlifts 335 pounds while competing at the 2026 RPS Maine State Powerlifting Championships in Falmouth. He was top in his division. (Courtesy of Chico Hernandez)
Maine Sports Hall of Fame Member James “Chico” Hernandez, 72, of Washburn repeated his performance from last year, winning the 2026 RPS Maine State Powerlifting Championships.
The event was held at the Beyond Strength Gym in Falmouth last month.
Hernandez won two state championships in the men’s masters amateur 70-74 age group, 242 pounds (he weighed in at 225 pounds) weight class in the raw classic division, which means no wraps or knee sleeves, and also won the men’s military amateur 70-74 age group 242lbs class.
He set four state records in the classic raw division and broke two world records in the bench press and overall total weight lifted. He owns now eight State of Maine Records and two world records.
This was Hernandez’s sixth straight powerlifting championship. He has only powerlifted for the last two years and trains at Aroostook County Fitness in Presque Isle.
In 2024, at the Nebraska State Senior Games, he won three gold medals in the powerlifting events squat, bench press and deadlift in his age division.
Hernandez extended his accomplishments to the national level by winning a gold medal in powerlifting and setting four national records at the 2025 National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa, competing in the men’s raw masters 70-74 age group, 4A division, where he recorded a 300-pound squat as part of his performance.
Earlier that year, at the Vermont State Senior Powerlifting Championships, he claimed additional golds in the squat, bench press, and deadlift events. In September 2025, Hernandez set multiple state records at the RPS Maine State Championships in Falmouth, establishing modern raw benchmarks in the 70-74 age group with a 315-pound squat, 315-pound deadlift, 225-pound bench press, and a combined total of 855 pounds.
As the oldest competitor in the meet, these lifts highlighted his enduring strength.
Last April he won his second straight Vermont Senior State Games Powerlifting Championship. His performances are documented in the Open Powerlifting database, reflecting his active participation in sanctioned events under federations like the Revolution Powerlifting Syndicate (RPS).
