The Men’s 74-kilogram class at the 2023 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) Classic World Championships (CWC) saw one of the competition’s tightest finishes and biggest upsets. Three-time world champion Taylor Atwood was in third place, beaten by only half a kilo.
Tim Monigatti broke Atwood’s raw squat world record with 283.5 kilograms but was ultimately eclipsed on bodyweight by Sweden’s Junior sensation, Carl Johansson, for the world title.
Monigatti and Johansson returned to battle at the 2024 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships held on Feb. 10, 2024, in Sheffield, England:
2024 Sheffield Championships — Men’s 74KG
- Tim Monigatti (New Zealand) — 2023 World Championships silver medallist
- Carl Johansson (Sweden) — 2023 World Champion
Only bodyweight separated Monigatti and Johansson the last time they squared off. Both have shown improvement in training since then, making it challenging to predict who would come out on top in England.
The 2024 Sheffield follows a format focused on IPF world records. The overall top prize went to the athlete who broke the total world record in their class by the highest proportion. Additionally, £5,000 bonuses were awarded for each world record broken in the squat, bench press, deadlift, or total
Squat
It was expected that Monigatti would lead on squats, which was fulfilled. Monigatti extended his raw squat world record on his second lift of 284 kilograms and nudged it to 288.5 kilograms on his third attempt, netting £5,000 in bonus prize money. Take a look at the lift below:
Meanwhile, Johansson performed steadily, converting all three squats and hitting a personal best of 270 kilograms.
Bench Press
Johansson opened heavier on bench press but stumbled on his second attempt of 185 kilograms. The bar stalled halfway up, allowing Monigatti to extend his lead with 170 kilograms.
However, it was Monigatti’s turn to miss in the third round. Johansson attempted 185 kilograms again, and this time it went, closing the gap to just 3.5 kilograms. Johansson jumped onto the bench to roar his triumph at the appreciative crowd.
Deadlift
Entering the contest, the raw deadlift and total world records in this class belonged to Kjell Bakkelund, who set them at 330 kilograms and 800 kilograms, respectively, at the 2023 European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Classic in Tartu, Estonia. As a reserve for the competition, Bakkelund was in attendance to watch his opponents attempt to eclipse for records.
Johansson was expected to open heavier, so it was surprising to see him emerge first onto the platform for 310 kilograms to Monigatti’s 315. They both made easy work of their opening attempts, but Monigatti extended his lead to 8.5 kilograms.
In the second round, Johansson jumped to a world record attempt of 330.5 kilograms. It took some effort, but it was a good lift and put him ahead. Monigatti looked comfortable with 331 kilograms, taking back the deadlift record and the lead.
Johansson and Monigatti were not only in a weight-class battle but also jockeying for position in the wider competition. For his final lift of the competition, Johansson selected an ambitious attempt of 340.5 kilograms to reach the podium, at least temporarily. Unfortunately, the tank was empty, and Johansson couldn’t move the barbell from the floor.
The raw deadlift world record stayed with Monigatti, winning him another £5,000 bonus. For his final lift, Monigatti took 348.5 kilograms, enough to take the total world record and move him up to first place in the overall competition — £30,000 staked on a single deadlift.
Monigatti gave it all he had, but it was too heavy, and he remained in sixth place — a creditable position in such an elite field. Johansson ranked ninth overall. Check out Johansson’s meet recap below:
[Related: The Women’s 57KG World Record Battle at the 2024 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships]
2024 Sheffield Men’s Results
- Gustav Hedlund (93KG): 895KG, 100.8%
- Jonathan Cayco (93KG): 890.5KG, 100.6%
- Delaney Wallace (83KG): 842.5KG, 100.2%
- Gavin Adin (93KG): 887KG, 99.9%
- Panagiotis Tarinidis (66KG): 702.5KG, 98.9%
- Timothy Monigatti (74KG): 789.5KG, 98.7%
- Carlos Petterson-Grifith (93KG): 875KG, 98.5%
- Anatolii Novopismennyi (105KG): 925.5KG, 98.5%
- Carl Johansson (74KG): 785.5KG, 98.2%
- Kyota Ushiyama (66KG): 690KG, 97.1%
- Jesus Olivares (120+KG): 1,152.5KG, 96.6%
- Tony Cliffe (120KG): 925KG, 94.5%
Johansson won at the 2023 World Championships over Monigatti on bodyweight. Monigatti bested Johansson at the 2024 Sheffield by four kilograms. These two will meet again at the 2024 IPF CWC in Druskininkai, Lithuania, in what is expected to be a stacked class.
Featured image: @deadlift.miyagi and @tim_monigatti on Instagram
