The European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Classic Championships (ECC) was held in the frozen and snowy environs of Tartu, Estonia, from Dec. 4-9, 2023. While the temperatures dropped outside, the competition heated up nicely indoors.

192 athletes from 25 European countries took part, and there were fierce battles and many World and European records broken.

2023 EPF European Classic Championships Results

Below are the podium standings for each weight category:

Women’s 47KG

1. Annalisa Motta (ITA) — 377.5 kilograms
2. Karin Angelini (ITA) — 340 kilograms
3. Mtvarisa Khardziani (GEO) — 325 kilograms

Women’s 52KG

1. Pleun Dekkers (NED) — 430.5 kilograms
2. Sarah Klein (GER) — 415 kilograms
3. Alison Huet (FRA) — 412.5 kilograms

Women’s 57KG

1. Bobbie Butters (GBR) — 472.5 kilograms
2. Sovannphaktra Pal (FRA) — 455 kilograms
3. Adejoke Adetayo (GBR) — 435 kilograms

Women’s 63KG

1. Chiara Bernardi (ITA) — 522.5 kilograms
2. Pantea Supanetz (AUT) — 470 kilograms
3. Mathilde Rosset (FRA) — 465 kilograms

Women’s 69KG

1. Marte Kjenner (NOR) — 627.5 kilograms
2. Clara Peyraud (FRA) — 540 kilograms
3. Annie Nelson (GBR) — kilograms

Women’s 76KG

1. Sophia Ellis (GBR) — 548 kilograms
2. Sara Sanchez-Manjavacas Ruiz (ESP) — 532.5 kilograms
3. Lea Schreiner (GER) — 527.5 kilograms

Women’s 84KG

1. Ziana Azariah (GBR) — 581 kilograms
2. Temitope Nuga (GBR) — 552.5 kilograms
3.  Kristín Þórhallsdóttir (ISL) — 552.5 kilograms

Women’s +84KG

1. Sonita Muluh (BEL) — 675 kilograms
2. Matilda Hjälle (SWE) — 590 kilograms
3. Anna-Lena Bellqvist (SWE) — 575 kilograms

Men’s 59KG

1. Ishtyaq Nabi (GBR) — 582.5 kilograms
2. Antoine Garcia (FRA) — 580 kilograms
3. Dariusz Wszoła (POL) — 550 kilograms

Men’s 66KG

1. Panagiotis Tarinidis (FRA) — 680 kilograms
2. Joel Catena (AUT) — 620 kilograms
3. Antti Savolainen (FIN) — 617.5 kilograms

Men’s 74KG

1. Kjell Egil Bakkelund (NOR) — 800 kilograms
2. Dmytro Biliak (UKR) — 702.5 kilograms
3. Denis Fastelli (ITA) — 702.5 kilograms

Men’s 83KG

1. Enahoro Asein (HUN) — 812.5 kilograms
2. Jurins Kengamu (GBR) — 812.5 kilograms
3. Edoardo Mazzucchielli (ITA) — 775 kilograms

Men’s 93KG

1. Christian Ayandokun (GBR) — 845 kilograms
2. Andrea Cicero (ITA) — 807.5 kilograms
3. Marc Ruis Pecanins (ESP) — 805 kilograms

Men’s 105KG

1. Emil Norling (SWE) — 895 kilograms
2. Ben Pape (GBR) — 877.5 kilograms
3. Timo Jakobi (GER) — 852.5 kilograms

Men’s 120KG

1. Inderraj Singh Dhillon (GBR) — 920.5 kilograms
2. Jonah Wiendieck (GER) — 920.5 kilograms
3. Maximilian Heidenreich (GER) — 890.5 kilograms

Men’s +120KG

1. Temur Samkharadze (GEO) — 1,027.5 kilograms
2. Cenk Koçak (TUR) — 1,018 kilograms
3. Stanley Odin (FRA) — 990 kilograms

[Related: Natalie Laalaai (+84KG) Deadlifts Unofficial IPF World Record of 272.5 Kilograms]

Team Awards

At EPF events, awards are given to the top three teams. The scoring is based on individual placings, with 12 points being given to the winner, nine points to the second-place athlete, eight points to third place, and so on down the rankings. The top five scores are added together to give the team placings.

Men’s Teams

1. Great Britain — 54 points
2. Italy — 39 points
3. France — 36 points

Women’s Teams

1. Great Britain — 53 points
2. Italy — 45 points
3. France — 40 points

The British team had their best-ever results under the new British Head Coach, Paul Marsh. They picked up six new European champions, three silver medallists, and two bronze medallists.

Standout moments at 2023 EPF ECC

Below are the major lifts and moments that occurred in Estonia:

• Pleun Dekkers (52KG) locked out a world-record squat.
• Kjell Bakkelund (74KG) hit world records in deadlift and total, posting the biggest GL points score ever at an IPF international contest.
• Enahoro Asein (83KG) deadlifted a world record to win gold via body weight.
• Clara Peyraud (69KG) scored Junior world records in the deadlift and total.
• Inderrah Singh Dhillon (120KG) deadlifted a world record to win via body weight.
• Barabara Gapp (57KG) pulled a Masters (age 40-49) deadlift world record.
• Breakthrough performance from Jonah Wiendieck (120KG), who matched the world record bench press.
• Temur Samkharadze (+120KG) hit a European record in the squat and a Junior world record total despite getting injured on his second deadlift.

The 2023 ECC was the final contest of the year for the EPF. However, due to a change in the international calendar, the 2024 ECC is only three months away. It will be held in Velika Gorica, Croatia, from March 12-17, 2024.

Featured image: @the_epf_ on Instagram