Lightweight Polish powerlifter Zuzanna Kula has been back in action, breaking even more records. On May 10, she competed at the European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Equipped Powerlifting Championships (EEC) in Hamm, Luxembourg, in the 57KG class, where she smashed her own bench press world record, which she had recently set at the 2024 Arnold UK.
Take a look at her final bench press attempt of 166 kilograms in the video below, courtesy of the EPF’s Instagram page:
Kula returned to competition late last year after recovering from ACL surgery. While she has been bringing her squat up to previous levels, she has used the time well on her bench press.
At the 2024 UK Arnold in March, Kula broke the 57KG class International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) bench press world record twice. She opened with 156.5 kilograms to take the record, then extended it to 161 kilograms. However, she missed her final attempt at 166 kilograms.
At the 2024 EEC, Kula used the same playbook, opening her bench press with a world record attempt at 161.5 kilograms. However, she didn’t lock it out and had to take it again for her second attempt, which was successful.
For her final bench press of the competition, Kula took 166 kilograms. The IPF keeps two sets of bench press records: full power and single-lift. If a lifter exceeds the single lift record in a full power competition, they claim that record as well, and that’s exactly what Kula did.
Kula used a bench shirt and wrist wraps to assist her in the lift, but she didn’t use a belt to secure her shirt in place, as most equipped benchers do. She employed the maximum permitted grip, with the forefingers of each hand on the rings of the barbell.
The descent was smooth, and Kula got a solid touch on the chest. Once she received the press command, the bar went to lockout with very little drama, and Kula took two bench records for the price of one.
2024 EPF European Equipped Powerlifting Championship Results — Zuzanna Kula (Poland), 57KG
- Squat
- 205 kilograms
- 215 kilograms
- 215 kilograms
- Bench Press
- 161.5 kilograms
- 161.5 kilograms — IPF Open World Record
- 166 kilograms — IPF Open World Record
- Deadlift
- 170 kilograms
- 177.5 kilograms
- 182.5 kilograms
- Total — 553.5 kilograms
After her final deadlift, Kula led the competition with an EPF European total record of 553.5 kilograms. However, Italy’s Alessandra Cernigliaro pulled off a huge deadlift PR of 197.5 kilograms to snatch the gold by a scant two kilograms.
In November, Kula is expected to lift next at the 2024 IPF World Equipped Powerlifting Championships in Reykjavik, Iceland. From there, she can qualify for the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China. She brought a silver medal back from the 2022 World Games and will surely aim to improve on that position next year.
Featured image: @theepf on Instagram
