The 2023 Powerlifting America (AMP) Classic National Championship was a festival of records in both the men’s and women’s divisions and across weight categories. Natalie Richards became the first female powerlifter at 57 kilograms in AMP history to eclipse a 500-kilogram total. Ray Williams landed a seventh National title on his resume in the superheavyweight class.
In the Men’s 66-kilogram category, Brian Le also took home the gold. He would have locked in International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) raw world records had the competition taking place in Austin, TX, been an international meet. He scored the following stats after going seven for eight in attempts, eschewing his third bench press. Check it out below:
2023 AMP National Classic Championship Results | Brian Le (66KG)
- Squat
- 227.5 kilograms (501.6 pounds)
242.5 kilograms (534.6 pounds)- 242.5 kilograms (534.6 pounds)
- Bench Press
- 147.5 kilograms (325.2 pounds)
- 152.5 kilograms (336.2 pounds)
- Deadlift
- 295.5 kilograms (651.5 pounds)
- 307.5 kilograms (677.9 pounds)
- 318.5 kilograms (702.2 pounds)
- Total — 713.5 kilograms (1,573 pounds)
Videos of Le’s top scores in the three big lifts can be seen below, courtesy of Powerlifting America’s Instagram page:
[Related: Jessica Buettner (84KG) Scores Raw Squat and Total Canadian Records at 2023 CPU Nationals]
According to Open Powerlifting, Le’s deadlift and total in the 66-kilogram class are the heaviest recorded in sanctioned IPF history. However, since the 2023 AMP Classic National Championship is what the name suggests — a national contest — world records are not recorded. It is one of the rare occasions where the American record is higher than the world record in the deadlift and total.
Here are the American IPF records Le currently holds, followed by the IPF world records for the same categories, according to the IPF’s record database linking to Good Lift:
Brian Le’s Competition-Best Lifts | 66KG
- Deadlift — 318.5 kilograms (702.2 pounds)
- Total — 713.5 kilograms (1,573 pounds)
IPF World Records | 66KG
- Deadlift — Senumong Kasemsand | 300 kilograms (661.4 pounds)
- Total — Senumong Kasemsand | 710.5 kilograms (1,566.4 pounds)
Similarly, in the deadlift, Ilya Marichev scored a 305-kilogram (672.4-pound) pull in Russian national competition at the 2022 Russian Powerlifting Federation (FPR) Classic Powerlifting Championships. Meaning the Russian national raw deadlift record is currently higher than the technical IPF raw world record held by Senumong Kasemsand.
Le will get the chance to officially establish his lifts as raw world records as his performance in Austin, TX, secured his spot on the US National team competing at the IPF World Classic Championships on June 11-18, 2023, in Valletta, Malta.
