Women’s Superheavyweight powerlifter Sonita Muluh is on a mission to make powerlifting history again.
The Belgian native hit two personal records (PRs) while training for the 2025 IPF World Open Classic Powerlifting Championships: a massive 285-kilogram squat double and a 145-kilogram bench press double. The event itself takes place from June 8 to 15 in Chemnitz, Germany.
Muluh competes in the +84KG weight class and stunned fans in March when she pulled an IPF raw squat world record of 318 kilograms at the drug-tested 2025 EPU European Classic Championships.
Check out Muluh’s latest lifts below:
Sonita Muluh Squats 285 Kilograms and Bench Presses 145 Kilograms in Prep for 2025 Worlds
Wearing orange knee sleeves, tight wrist wraps, and a black lifting belt in a Rogue-equipped gym, Muluh worked up to a 275-kilogram squat for two reps. Using a wide stance, she braced her core and powered through her 285-kilogram squat double. During the lift, she controlled her breathing for intra-abdominal pressure, cruised into a smooth descent before grinding the ascent of the second rep.
Training at this level of intensity takes its toll, something Muluh has grappled with ahead of her next competition, as she pointed out:
I was feeling myself getting into a burnout, but remembered that it’s a luxury I can’t afford.—Muluh Sonita
Muluh’s leg drive, shoulder position, and tightness in the upper back allowed maximal force during her 145-kilogram bench press PR double. She utilized a slower tempo and brought the bar to her chest, controlling the weight during both reps.
The 28-year-old rounded out the training session with a 250-kilogram deadlift double, signaling that she can exceed her total world record of 735.5 kilograms. Using a conventional stance and a mixed grip with a straight torso, she drove through her heels, pulled the barbell up her thighs, and stood tall at the lockout.
Muluh’s approach to near-max doubles on her big three lifts suggests another dominant performance is to come in June.
I’m keeping my head up and surviving. Three weeks out, and I will give it my best.
—Sonita Muluh
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Featured image: @sonita_ml on Instagram
