The 2021 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Open Classic Championships are in Halmstad, Sweden, from Sept. 29 through Oct. 3, 2021. There’s already been a slew of world records up and down the weight categories in the Men’s and Women’s divisions. The standout performance thus far comes from one of the sport’s elites: Lya Bavoil of France in the 63-kilogram weight class.
Bavoil is quite familiar with the record books; she held the squat and total world records coming into the event ā 193 kilograms (425.5 pounds) and 514 kilograms (1,133.2 pounds), respectively. The France native met was seemingly expected to outperform herself, and she didn’t disappoint. On Sept. 31, 2021, Bavoil outperformed herself by scoring three raw IPF world records at the IPF World Championships for the squat, deadlift, and total. Here was Bavoil’s full performance:
IPF World Championships ā Lya Bavoil
- Squat ā 205 kilograms (452 pounds) ā IPF World Record
- Bench Press ā 112.5 kilograms (248 pounds)
- Deadlift ā 230.5 kilograms (508.2 pounds) ā IPF World Record
- Total ā 548 kilograms (1,208.1 pounds) ā IPF World Record
Anyone who has followed Bavoil’s training leading up to this contest should not be surprised by her stellar performance. She squatted a double-take worthy 6.8 kilograms (15 pounds) over her then IPF squat world record (set in January 2020). In February 2020, Bavoil unofficially topped her IPF world record squat again with a lift of just half a kilogram under what she locked out in Halmstad. Check out her squat from the IPF World Championships below, courtesy of IPF’s Instagram page:
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[Related: Kristy Hawkins (75KG) Sets 3 World Records at the 2021 Bucked Up Showdown Powerlifting Meet]
When it comes to the deadlift, Bavoil’s performance in Halmstad is not unexpected but still impressive nonetheless. In January 2020, she pulled 215 kilograms (474 pounds). In May 2020, she loaded 220 kilograms (485 pounds) on her barbell and took that for a ride. In July 2020 ā more than a year out from the 2021 IPF World Championships ā Bavoil was already making her IPF total world record look light, by comparison, besting it by 41 kilograms (90.4 pounds).
At the 2021 IPF World Championships, Bavoil utilized a mixed grip and conventional stance to lockout the new world record. Her performance won the gold at 63 kilograms, improving two ranks from her bronze medal finish at this competition in 2019.
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[Related: Powerlifter Tamara Walcott Deadlifts All-Time Womenās Raw World Record of 288.5 Kilograms (636 Pounds)]
Bavoil is unlikely to control all the world records at 63-kilograms as her bench press is well behind the current IPF world record of Jen Thompson‘s 142.5 kilograms (314.2 pounds) ā which is 13.6 kilograms (30 pounds) heavier than Bavoil’s lift in Halmstad. However, in IPF competition, Bavoil seems to be in a league of her at 63 kilograms. She is both a European and now a world champion, and it appears as though she is only getting stronger.
Featured image: @theipf on Instagram