Eagle Passan Rito Flores, Jr. Wins World Bench Press Championship Representing United States
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
Newly signed University of Texas at Austin Longhorns Powerlifting athlete, Rito Flores, Jr., age 18, of Eagle Pass, Texas captured his first World Bench Press Championship in his debut at an international competition representing the United States of America (USA) on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the International Powerlifting Federation World Classic and Equipped Bench Press Championships in Austin, Texas.
Flores, who is a senior at Eagle Pass High School, debuted in his first international meet by snatching the World Bench Press Championship in the Sub-Junior 74 kg. category only one day prior to his scheduled graduation on Friday, May 24, 2024 by recording a bench press of 152 kilograms (336 lbs.) on his third attempt of the competition, besting other powerlifters from around the world including Great Britain, Canada, Australia, Poland, Georgia, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Japan, and other countries.
“This is an incredible accomplishment for a young American powerlifter to nab the World Bench Press Championship in his category on his very first international meet representing the United States at the IPF World Classic and Equipped Bench Press Championship held in Austin, Texas,” said Luis Huerta, Principal at Eagle Pass High School.
“I just attended Rito’s letter signing ceremony together with five more Eagle Pass High School athletes on May 16, 2024 and a week later he snatches the World Bench Press Championship in his Sub-Junior 74 kilogram category, an amazing achievement for him and our community of Eagle Pass as well as our country, the United States,” added Huerta.
Flores’ World Bench Press Championship earns him the first Eagle Passan to earn a world championship in the sport of powerlifting.
Although Eagle Pass High School nor the Eagle Pass Independent School District does not have a powerlifting team at the local high school level, Flores picked up the sport of powerlifting as an eighth grader, age 14, when his uncle, Daniel Flores, introduced him to the sport at a local gym.
Flores has been training individually at local gymnasiums and received private online training from Coach Don Kline of Pennsylvania.
Previously, Flores won first place at the Powerlifting America Bench Press Nationals held on January 27, 2024 in Austin, Texas, earning the right and privilege to represent the United States on its USA Powerlifting Team. Recently, Flores placed second at the Powerlifting America High School Nationals held on April 20, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana, motivating him to train more rigorously and disciplined in the sport. His dedication and commitment paid off with the World Bench Press Championship on May 23, 2024 in Austin, Texas.
Flores is the son of Rito Flores and Marvelia Flores of Eagle Pass, Texas. He has been admitted to the University of Texas at Austin prestigious Pre-Pharmacy Program and looks forward to training with elite collegiate athletes on the Texas Longhorns Powerlifting Team in the Fall of 2024 and the next four years. Flores’ future is extremely bright now that he will be training at the University of Texas at Austin Longhorns Powerlifting facilities and team.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal and the citizens of Eagle Pass heartily congratulate Rito Flores, Jr.’s on his World Bench Press Championship and wish him all the best in his future athletics and academic endeavors. Bravo, Rito! Go Team USA!
