BUTLER TWP — All Tim Iman wanted to do was get stronger.

Now he’s a world record holder.

The 28-year-old Butler Township resident recently set an International Powerlifting Association record in the bench-press while competing at a powerlifting meet in Columbus, Ohio. It was only the second competition Iman has done in the sport.

“I’ve been weight-lifting for five or six years now,” said Iman, a Butler City fireman. “I just wanted to get stronger and better myself.

“I started training at Harlan’s gym in February. A few (competitive) powerlifters train there and I got curious about it.”

Iman met Justin Kearns — who set the International Powerlifting Federation bench-press record of 555 pounds last year — while he was working out one day.

“He came over to me and asked if I’d train him for a meet,” Kearns said. “Of course I was willing to help. He works hard.”

Kearns joined Iman and a third Butler competitor — 21-year-old Gunther Gaiser — at the IPA meet in Columbus. Kearns won in masters open division and Gaiser claimed gold in the junior division.

Iman made major progress in this meet compared to his debut at a meet in Monroeville last May.

“I missed all three of my lifts there,” Iman recalled. “My butt came off the bench and if that happens, your lift doesn’t count.”

A competitor gets three lifts in each category he enters at a meet. Iman missed his third lift in Columbus, but he didn’t need it.

Competing in the pro-raw men’s police-fire division — which includes policemen, firefighters and other emergency personnel workers — he broke the previous division world record of 286 pounds for his weight class by lifting 290 pounds on his first attempt. He bumped that up to 310 pounds on his second try.

Iman stands 6-foot-0 and weighs 190 pounds.

“My butt came off the bench maybe an inch on that third lift, but it can’t come off at all,” Iman said. “I knew it right away.”

Kearns said the sport us all about technique and confidence.

“You need technique,” he said. “You can’t muscle up or your body is going to come off.

“It takes a while to get that down, but Tim is pretty good with it now.”

Iman lifts four or five days a week in the gym for two hours at a time. Kearns worked with him for a 15-week training session prior to the IPA meet.

Now he’s working with him in getting ready for the “Pittsburgh Monster” competition in April.

“My goal is to hit 350 there,” Iman said. “I know I can do much better.”

Kearns is aiming higher yet for Iman.

“I think he can do 65. He can do another 50 to 60 pounds more than that last meet,” Kearns said.

Iman is excited about what the future may hold.

“The support you get from the group in that gym is incredible,” he said. “There’s so much encouragement. I just want to keep going, see how far I can get.”