Lightweight powerlifter Daniel Clements has yet to grace the international platform. Yet the weights he lifts put him amongst the highest achievers in the world in the 66KG class.
Clements joined Powerlifting America (PA), the American affiliate of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), early in 2024. However, he did not compete at the 2024 PA Raw Nationals due to an adductor injury. He did not get the opportunity to contend for a place at the 2024 IPF Classic World Championships.
Clements made his comeback performance on July 27, 2024, at the SBD Raleigh meet in North Carolina. His lifts might not be back to full strength, but they are already world-beating as he exceeded the IPF world record raw total by seven kilograms. Check out his meet recap below, including his 717.5-kilogram total:
Clements’ best squat at this meet was 252.5 kilograms, down from the 262.5 kilograms he had previously done. While this was done in a higher weight class, his body weight was only two kilograms over the 66KG class.
Clements missed the 165-kilogram press on bench press that would have matched his best in competition. He scored 160 kilograms as a result.
Similarly, deadlifts were a bit down. Clements has previously hit 323 kilograms at 66.7 kilograms bodyweight. Here, he scored 305 kilograms for his final lift. Still, it was comfortable and only 2.5 kilograms below the Open world record that Canada’s Tuan Hien Tran hit at the 2023 Junior World Championships in Romania.
Although these results were somewhat subdued by Clements’ standard, eclipsing the IPF world record raw total by seven kilograms is monumental. That record has stood since 2022 when current IPF world champion Kasemsand Senumong of Thailand broke it at the Asian Classic Championships in Dubai.
Clements’ best total in competition is 745.5 kilograms. If he can recover sufficiently to bring his numbers back up to this level, he will be hard to beat on the world stage.
2024 SBD Raleigh Results — Daniel Clements, 66KG, Raw
- Squat
- 225 kilograms
- 240 kilograms
- 252.5 kilograms
- Bench Press
- 155 kilograms
- 160 kilograms
165 kilograms
- Deadlift
- 285 kilograms
- 300 kilograms
- 305 kilograms
- Total — 717.5 kilograms
To officially claim the IPF world records, Clements must first win his class at the 2025 PA Raw Nationals. From there, he will qualify to compete at the 2025 IPF Classic World Championships in Chemnitz, Germany, and finally get to write his name in the international record books.
More Powerlifting Content
- World Champion Powerlifter Russel Orhii Breaks Down How to Make Your Bench Press Easier
- Joe Borenstein (83KG) Sets Unofficial IPF World Record Raw Total of 865 Kilograms
- “A Coin Flip With Death”: Powerlifter Jared Maynard Says Lifting Weights “Saved” Him From Rare Disease
Featured image: @danlsann on Instagram
