Jørgen Jønvåg competed at the 2023 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Junior Powerlifting Championships (WJPC) in Cluj Napoca, Romania on Aug. 27, 2023. He took part in the equipped category, in which athletes are permitted the use of knee wraps, squat and deadlift suits, and bench shirts.
Jønvåg is a relatively new lifter, only competing since 2022. Yet he has already broken national records in squat back home in Norway. At the 2023 IPF WJPC, his first international competition, he went even further, setting a world record in the Sub-Junior (ages 14-18) 105-kilogram class of 336 kilograms (741 pounds). Take a look at the lift below, courtesy of the IPF Instagram page:
Jønvåg wore a single-ply squat suit, knee wraps, and a lifting belt to help move more weight. His descent to the bottom of the squat was slow and controlled, and he maintained an upright position all the way down.
Jønvåg took the barbell to depth and ascended just as smoothly. The bar speed slowed about halfway up, but he kept his chest proud, pushed his knees forward, and was rewarded with a clean lockout at the top.
Jønvåg’s top competition squat before this was 310 kilograms (683 pounds) from approximately 10 weeks prior, so his rate of progression is impressive. Not just a big squatter, Jønvåg scored gold for each of the three lifts squat, bench press, and deadlift.
Jønvåg was miles ahead of the field in the bench press with 197.5 kilograms (435 pounds). However, that was still a fair way down on his best bench press in competition, which stands at 215 kilograms (474 pounds).
Jønvåg was challenged on the deadlift, but his final pull of 280 kilograms (617 pounds) secured him a personal record to complete the set.
2023 IPF World Equipped Powerlifting Championships Results — Jørgen Jønvåg (NOR), 105KG
Below are lJønvåg’s results:
- Squat
- 295 kilograms (650 pounds)
- 310 kilograms (683 pounds)
- 336 kilograms (741 pounds) — New Sub-Junior IPF Equipped World Record
- Bench Press
- 192.5 kilograms (424 pounds)
- 197.5 kilograms (435 pounds)
- 197.5 kilograms (435 pounds)
- Deadlift
- 250 kilograms (551 pounds)
- 270 kilograms (595 pounds)
- 280 kilograms (617 pounds)
- Total
- 813.5 kilograms (1793 pounds)
Jønvåg has another year left in the Sub-Junior category, so he will have a few remaining opportunities to push his new record further. His next international meet will likely be the European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Equipped Junior Championships, held in Hamm, Luxembourg, in May 2024. This gives him a long off-season to train and develop his skills with the equipment. One thing is for sure: There is a new star in the making in IPF-equipped powerlifting.
Featured image: @theipf on Instagram
