A worthy report mark for a stellar athlete.
The 2023 Worldwide Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Bench Press Championships noticed quite a lot of hallowed data fall. One in all them now belongs to 50-year-old Dutch powerlifter lelja Strik, who helped rewrite the report books in the course of the higher physique, single-lift power contest that came about on Could 20-28, 2023, in Solar Metropolis, South Africa.
By the competitors’s finish, Strik recorded a 132.5-kilogram (292.1-pound) uncooked bench press on her greatest try. The determine is a uncooked Masters 2 (ages 50 to 59) World File in Strik’s 84-kilogram division, the place the athlete got here in first place because of her high carry. Strik utilized wrist wraps throughout her report milestone however in any other case accomplished the bench press fully uncooked.
Strik, who’s a frequent and profitable single-lift bench press specialist at competitions, broke the report in commanding style. The earlier mark of 123 kilograms (271.1 kilos) was set by Tammy Walker on the 2019 NAPF North American Regional Bench Press Championships. In her latest efficiency, Strik broke the report on her very first bench press try (125 kilograms/275.5 kilos), inched the report greater along with her subsequent try (127.5 kilograms/281.1 kilos), and completed the day along with her decisive carry.
Per her private web page on Open Powerlifting, Strik is a seasoned powerlifter, starting her sanctioned profession over twenty years in the past on the 2001 Nederlandse Powerlifting Bond (NPB) Dutch Powerlifting Championships. Within the time since, Strik has recorded an astonishing 100 separate victories in single-lift or full-power meets, each uncooked and geared up in some capability. There’s prolific after which there’s seemingly competing and thriving in each alternative thrown one’s approach. Strik seems to suit extra of the latter description as an athlete.
Right here’s an summary of Strik’s all-time uncooked competitors bests:
lelja Strik | All-Time Uncooked Competitors Bests
- Squat — 209.9 kilograms (462.9 kilos)
- Bench Press — 144.9 kilograms (319.6 kilos)
- Deadlift — 209.9 kilograms (462.9 kilos)
- Whole — 556.9 kilograms (1,227.9 kilos)
Strik’s aggressive resume is generally Dutch-oriented, however the athlete can rely varied European and Worldwide World uncooked and geared up titles all through her in depth resume.
Whereas unimaginable to verify outright, Strik could possibly be moderately considered as some of the productive powerlifters within the historical past of power sports activities. That makes her newest accomplishment one more spectacular notch within the athlete’s lifting belt.
Featured picture: @theipf on Instagram
