British powerlifter Erholove Izobodo-John deadlifted an impressive 227.5 kilograms in her first competition in 2021. She has added weight to her deadlift at a steady rate since.
Izobodo-John competed on March 16, 2024, at the 2024 European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Classic Championships in Velika Gorica, Croatia, in the 84KG class. There were whispers of her carrying an injury into the competition and not being at her best.
Still, Izobodo-John silenced the doubters with a huge final deadlift of 263 kilograms, breaking the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) Junior world record. Check it out below, courtesy of the IPF Instagram page:
Izobodo-John might be the calmest powerlifter in the IPF. She never seems fired up but approaches the platform serenely, even gesturing to the crowd for calm. She employs a sumo stance and a mixed grip on her deadlifts and uses a lifting belt to create intra-abdominal pressure.
The barbell went nearly all the way to the top with barely a pause. Izobodo-John pulled back into full lockout and secured the Junior world record, curtseying to the cheering crowd as she left the platform.
The lift was all the more impressive as it represented a 10-kilogram increase on the record and came amidst a hard-fought battle against teammate Ziana Azariah. The European Classic is an Open competition where athletes can’t usually chip (i.e., add a half-kilogram increment) a Junior record. However, in this case, the record was also a European Open record, so the chip could be employed.
Azariah had already broken the record with 258 kilograms on her final pull. To match Azariah’s total and win on bodyweight, Izobodo-John loaded up exactly what she needed, breaking the European Junior total record with 583 kilograms.
2024 EPF European Classic Championships Results — Erholove Izobodo-John (UK), 84KG
- Squat
- 200 kilograms (440.9 pounds)
- 212.5 kilograms (468.5 pounds)
- 215 kilograms (474 pounds) — EPF Junior European Record
- Bench Press
- 100 kilograms (220.5 pounds)
- 105 kilograms (231.5 pounds)
107.5 kilograms (237 pounds)
- Deadlift
- 237.5 kilograms (523.6 pounds)
- 250 kilograms (551.2 pounds)
- 263 kilograms (579 pounds) — EPF Open European Record, IPF Junior World Record
- Total — 583 kilograms (1,285.3 pounds) — EPF Junior European Record
This is Izobodo-John’s last year as a Junior. It’s unclear whether she will compete in the 2024 IPF Junior World Championships in Malta or the 2024 IPF World Open Classic Championships in Druskininkai, Lithuania. Whichever she chooses, the record books will not be safe.
Featured image: @theipf on Instagram
