Daiki Kodama of Japan lifted both raw and equipped at the 2023 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Bench Press Championships held in Sun City, South Africa, on May 20-28. He bench pressed 275 kilograms (606 pounds) in a single-ply bench shirt in the equipped competition, taking the gold medal for the 14th time in this discipline.
However, in the raw competition, Kodama set a new IPF raw world record bench press in a single-lift contest in the 83-kilogram class. It was the first time the 44-year-old competed in that class at an international meet. Check out his three-for-three performance:
2023 IPF World Classic Bench Press Championships Results — Daiki Kodama, 83KG
- Bench Press
- 210 kilograms (463 pounds)
- 220.5 kilograms (486 pounds) — New Open & Masters 1 IPF Raw World Record
- 230.5 kilograms (508 pounds) — New Open & Masters 1 IPF Raw World Record
Check out Kodama’s new IPF raw bench press world record lift below, courtesy of the IPF’s Instagram page:
View this post on Instagram
Kodama weighed in at 82.45 kilograms (182 pounds), raising questions about whether he struggled to cut to the 74-kilogram (163-pound) class and prompting the move to 83 kilograms. While unclear if the weight class shift is permanent, the extra body weight suits him, judging by the results.
Kodama looked relaxed and happy, as he always does, as he approached the platform. His opening lift secured the Masters 1 (ages 40-49) IPF raw world record. His second lift moved almost as quickly as the first, despite the extra kilos, and claimed the Open record set by Rüdiger Riehm at the 1990 IPF World Bench Press Championships by 10.5 kilograms.
Cheers went up from the crowd when Kodama approached the bench to take his final lift. He waved cheerfully to his fans and then settled onto the Eleiko combo rack for the attempt. His bar speed dropped away considerably, but the path was smooth, and he returned the barbell to arms’ length and waited for the rack command with locked elbows.
The announcer called a good lift, Kodama raised his fists in triumph, and the crowd responded with cheers and applause — one more world championship title and yet another record for the master bencher from Japan.
View this post on Instagram
[Related: The 2024 Sheffield Championships To Have Largest Powerlifting Event Prize Pool Ever]
Rivalry — Kodama & Chuprynko
Until 2021, Kodama was unbeaten at the international level. He dueled with Ivan Chuprynko of Ukraine for several years. At the 2021 IPF World Bench Press Championships in Lithuania, Kodama stumbled, allowing Chuprynko to claim victory in the raw contest.
The following year, at the 2022 IPF World Bench Press Championships in Kazakhstan, Kodama regained the raw title but lost the equipped championship to Chuprynko. In 2023, the two did not meet in competition directly as Kodama moved up a weight class while Chuprynko remained at 74 kilograms.
View this post on Instagram
The rivalry rumbles on, though — Chuprynko benched a stunning 300.5 kilograms to take Kodama’s equipped world record by half a kilogram on the last day of the championships.
Kodama has competed in the 74-kilogram (163-pound) class since its inception in 2011. According to Open Powerlifting, he holds the IPF raw world record in that class as well, thanks to his lift of 225 kilograms at the 2019 IPF World Bench Press Championships.
Featured image: @theipf on Instagram
