The International Powerlifting Federation’s (IPF) World University Cup is the top-level university competition. In 2024, it will be held under the aegis of the Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) for the first time.
From July 23rd, 2024, over 180 powerlifters from 20 countries will gather in Tartu, Estonia, to take to the platform to represent their University and their country. To qualify for this championship, athletes must be 25 years old or younger, university students, and nationals of the country they represent.
[Related: For Some Olympic Athletes, Getting a Medal Through TSA Is the Hardest Part]
Athletes to Watch
Below are male and female lifters to keep eyes on during competition days:
Guillaume Parisot (83KG class) — France
2022 was a good year for Parisot. He was the bronze medallist at the UK Arnold and the European Classic in Skierniewice. He won the 2023 World University Cup (WUC), breaking the squat, deadlift, and total records.
Eliam Tchandeu Noundou (105KG class) — France
Tchandeu Noundou won silver at the 2023 European University Cup (EUC) and rose to gold at the 2023 WUC. He holds the FISU world records in squat, deadlift, and total.
Guillaume Jean Marie Flore (93KG class) — France
Flore has already appeared at several minor international events—two at the Pyrenees Cup in 2023 and 2024 and one at the 2022 Western European Championships. He has been quietly building a huge deadlift and has a good chance of breaking the FISU world record in that lift.
Ellen B. Åkesson (63KG class) — Sweden
Åkesson has been competing nationally since 2021 but stepped up to international competition in 2023. That year, she took the silver medal at the EUC in the 63KG class and followed it up with the silver medal at the WUC in the 69KG class. For this event, she is back down in the 63s.
Salma Mmadi (84+KG class) — France
Mmadi has built a huge squat in her short career, adding 55 kilograms in 18 months. She is the current Junior European champion and has won the gold medal at the two previous WUCs and the 2024 EUC.
Marelin Jüriado (84KG class) — Estonia
Jüriado has the advantage of lifting on home turf at this event. She has been competing since 2021 and already has an impressive resume. She lifts classic and equipped and was the sub-Junior European champion in classic and equipped in 2022.
[Related: Jonathan Lewis (93KG) Breaks Long-Standing IPF Junior Raw Deadlift World Record with 355.5 Kilograms]
Full Livestream Schedule
Author’s Note: All times are Eastern European (UTC + 2). The schedule is subject to change.
Tuesday, July 23rd
- Women’s 47KG & 52KG classes — 10:00 a.m.
- Men’s 59KG & 66KG classes — 1:00 p.m.
- Opening Ceremony — 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 24th
- Women’s 57KG class — 9:00 a.m.
- Men’s 74KG class — 12:30 p.m.
- Women’s 63KG class — 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 25th
- Women’s 69KG class — 10:00 a.m.
- Men’s 83KG class — 2:00 p.m.
Friday, July 26th
- Men’s 93KG class — 9:00 a.m.
- Women’s 76KG class — 1:00 p.m.
- Men’s 105KG class — 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 27th
- Women’s 84KG & 84+KG classes — 9:00 a.m.
- Men’s 120KG & 120+KG classes — 1:30 p.m.
More Powerlifting Content
- Betty Aborah (63KG) Breaks the Open Deadlift World Record with 232 Kilograms
- Agata Sitko (84KG) Breaks Bench Press World Record With 156 Kilograms at the 2024 Euro Muscle Show
- Natalie Laalaai (84+KG) Raw Deadlifts 7 Kilograms Over IPF World Record In Training
Featured image: @theipf on Instagram
