Lightweight lifter Zuzanna Kula of Poland has written her name in the record books for the third time in 2024. Competing at the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Bench Press Championships (WBC) in Austin, TX, on May 29, 2024, in the equipped 57KG class, Kula attempted her world title defense from the 2023 edition of this contest in Sun City, South Africa.
Once Kula secured 160 kilograms on her second bench press attempt, it was clear that she wouldn’t be seriously challenged for the title. This freed her to attempt to increase her world record, which she successfully did with 168 kilograms. Take a look at the lift below, courtesy of the IPF’s Instagram account:
Kula wore permitted equipment in the equipped category, including a bench shirt and wrist wraps. She did not, however, use a lifting belt; often used to secure the bench shirt in place. Kula did not seem affected by its absence.
Kula utilized the maximum width grip permitted in the IPF, with forefingers covering the 81-centimeter rings. She smoothly brought the barbell down to her chest, but the bar’s ascent was somewhat jerky. It was a good lift, and Kula secured her sixth world record.
The IPF keeps two sets of bench press records, separating those done in full power meets from those performed in single-lift meets. Kula has been knocking off both with regularity. She suffered an injury in 2023 and had to have ACL surgery. While she couldn’t squat, she focused on her bench press.
This paid off well. Kula broke the 57KG class three-lift bench world record twice at the Arnold UK in March 2024, first with 156.5 kilograms and then again with 161 kilograms.
Kula followed this with an appearance at the European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Equipped Powerlifting Championships (EEC) in Hamm, Luxembourg. She missed gold by only two kilograms but still broke a few records. Her second attempt of 161.5 kilograms extended her three-lift bench press world record, and her third lift of 166 kilograms also broke the single-lift record.
2024 IPF World Equipped Bench Press Championship Results — Zuzanna Kula (Poland), 57KG
- Bench Press
160 kilograms- 160 kilograms
- 168 kilograms — IPF Open World Record
Kula is not currently on the roster for the 2024 EPF European Bench Press Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, in August, although entries have not yet closed at the time of writing. If she doesn’t compete there, she will certainly be at the 2024 IPF World Equipped Powerlifting Championships in November in Iceland.
Qualification for the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China, is on the table at that event. As the first Polish woman ever to win a medal in powerlifting at The World Games, she will not miss an opportunity to qualify again.
Featured image: @theipf on Instagram
