British lightweight powerlifter Gwen Marsden started competing in 2023 at a varsity competition between Oxford and Cambridge Universities. A year and a half later, she is the Junior world champion in the 43KG class and holds all of that class’s Junior world records, too.
Marsden competed at the 2024 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) Junior World Championships in Malta and led the field in every discipline. Marsden’s best squat was 113.5 kilograms, a Junior British record. She eclipsed that number with her second squat and broke the Junior world record with 120.5 kilograms on her third.
The IPF set minimum standards for world records. In the Junior 43KG class, no one had yet met the required standard of 75 kilograms. Marsden did so with her second bench press, then added two kilograms to extend it on her third.
Once again, it seemed as though Marsden had not reached the limit of her strength. The press was easy, and Marsden secured another record.
By deadlifts, Marsden was clear of the rest of the field — she did not have to defend the overall gold and was free to attempt even more world records. She broke the Junior total world record with her opening deadlift.
Marsden’s second deadlift broke the Junior deadlift world record previously held by fellow British lifter Cherry Yeung. Marsden extended the deadlift and total records on her final lift, which seemed close to her top end as the lockout was slow.
[Related: How To Watch The 2024 EPF European Classic Junior Powerlifting Championships]
2024 IPF Junior World Championships Results — Gwen Marsden, 43KG | Raw
- Squat
- 112.5 kilograms
- 117.5 kilograms
- 120.5 kilograms — IPF Classic Junior World Record
- Bench Press
- 72.5 kilograms
- 75 kilograms — IPF Classic Junior World Record
- 77 kilograms — IPF Classic Junior World Record
- Deadlift
- 140 kilograms
- 146.5 kilograms — IPF Classic Junior World Record
- 150.5 kilograms — IPF Classic Junior World Record
- Total — 348 kilograms — IPF Classic Junior World Record
Marsden is not on the roster for the upcoming European Classic Junior Powerlifting Championships so it might be some time before she hits the platform again. With this perfect, nine-for-nine, record-breaking performance, Marsden made her mark on the sport. With three more years in the Junior category, she will almost surely to break more records before moving to the Open category.
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Featured image: @theipf on Instagram
