U.S. powerlifter Joe Borenstein has been competing since he was 15. Now 21 and still a Junior, Borenstein has years of lifting experience. He switched from USA Powerlifting (USAPL) to Powerlifting America (PA) in 2024 and, on July 27, took part in the Prime Time session of the 2024 SBD Raleigh meet.
In the Prime Time session, athletes from different weight classes competed against each other. They were scored on the proportion of the American total record they achieved. This unusual format reflects, on a national level, the scoring system of SBD Apparel’s international money meet, the Sheffield Powerlifting Championships.
Borenstein put in the performance of his life, going nine for nine and hitting the biggest total of any drug-tested powerlifter in the world in the 83KG class. Check out his meet recap below:
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Borenstein started strong, hitting a 10-kilogram personal record on the squat and a seven-kilogram personal record on the bench press. But it was on the deadlift where Borenstein really impressed.
Going into the meet, Borenstein’s biggest deadlift was 340 kilograms. He took that weight for his second attempt and almost made it look like an empty barbell. However, a 20-kilogram jump up to 360 kilograms for his final attempt seemed like a Hail Mary.
He set up in a wide sumo stance and took the bar in a narrow hook grip — at least some of his grip seemed to be inside the knurling on the smooth part of the bar. The bar moved slowly but did not stall, and he locked it out successfully.
Borenstein achieved 100.58 percent of the American total record to win the meet and secure $3,500 in prize money. It ranks as the biggest drug-tested total ever achieved in the 83KG class.
2024 SBD Raleigh Results — Joe Borenstein, Raw 83KG
- Squat
- 267.5 kilograms
- 285 kilograms
- 295 kilograms
- Bench Press
- 192.5 kilograms
- 205 kilograms
- 210 kilograms
- Deadlift
- 315 kilograms
- 340 kilograms
- 360 kilograms
- Total — 865 kilograms
At the 2024 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) Classic World Championships, Jurins Kengamu took the title with 845 kilograms, which would have put Borenstein at the top of the podium.
To make the team and qualify for the 2025 contest, Borenstein must beat Russel Orhii at the 2025 PA Raw Nationals, which is no easy feat. This young man has the biggest numbers currently, but Orhii is fearsome and will not allow an easy ride.
Featured image: @joe.borenstein on Instagram
