The Women’s +84-kilogram class at the 2023 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) Classic World Championships (CWC) in Malta was arguably the best battle of the whole event. At the 2024 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships, they ran it back with two of the three combatants.
The competition format was heavily focused on IPF world records. The overall top prize went to the athlete who broke the total world record in their class by the highest proportion. Additionally, £5,000 (~$6,300) bonuses were offered for each world record broken in the squat, bench press, deadlift, or total.
2024 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships — Women’s +84KG Class
- Brittany Schlater (Canada) — 2023 World Champion
- Sonita Muluh (Belgium) — Squat World Record Holder
At the 2023 CWC, Muluh set the IPF raw squat world record with a massive 285.5 kilograms (629.5 pounds). However, Schlater eventually won the title when Muluh’s final deadlift was turned down for a fraction of lockout.
[Related: The Men’s 93KG Class Yields Surprises at the 2024 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships]
Squat
Entering the competition, Muluh’s squat training was on fire — she squatted an incredible 301 kilograms (663.5 pounds). However, Schlater is a fantastic all-rounder, and their rematch held promise of a close battle.
Muluh extended her own squat world record with 290.5 kilograms (640 pounds) and then asked for a historic weight of 300.5 kilograms (662.5 kilograms) on the barbell for her final attempt. The packed crowd was on their feet, and a wall of noise greeted Muluh as she approached the platform.
Muluh looked calm and focused as she set up for her final squat. She took it to depth, and the ascent appeared smooth and comfortable. It was not only an IPF world record but the all-time raw squat world record.
No slouch herself in the squat, Schlater hit all three attempts and finished with an impressive 285 kilograms (628 pounds).
Bench Press
Schlater made up ground on the bench press, scoring 157.5 kilograms (347 pounds) for a new personal best and the third heaviest bench in the IPF behind Mahailya Reeves and Amélie Mierger, who have both hit 167.5 kilograms (369 pounds).
Muluh hit a personal best bench press of 147.5 kilograms (325 pounds). However, she missed her third attempt at 152.5 kilograms (336 pounds), placing Schlater only five and a half kilograms (12 pounds) back going into deadlifts.
Deadlift
Muluh was out first with an opening deadlift of 245 kilograms (540 pounds). It shot off the floor like a rocket but may have surprised Muluh as she stumbled backward and lost control of the bar. Schlater was next with 247.5 kilograms (545.5 pounds) but lost her balance and fell forward.
Muluh increased the weight to 250 kilograms (551 pounds) for her second attempt despite having nothing on the board. Her squat world record was at risk if she didn’t manage to make a total. Fortunately, the second deadlift moved fast and easy, securing the raw total world record of 698 kilograms (1,539 pounds).
Schlater made short work of 255 kilograms, closing the gap to a mere half a kilogram (one pound). In the final round, Muluh locked out 260 kilograms (573 pounds), becoming the first woman in the IPF to push through the raw 700-kilogram (1,543-pound) milestone.
Schlater loaded a colossal 267.5 kilograms (590 pounds) for her final lift, attempting a 710-kilogram (1,565-pound) total; enough to reclaim the total world record. Schlater paced the platform before approaching the barbell as a hush fell over the crowd. Tumultuous applause shattered the silence when Schlater absolutely smoked her lift.
The super heavyweight rematch did not disappoint, coming amid several historic performances. Overall, Schlater and Muluh finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively.
2024 Sheffield Championships — Women’s Results
- Agata Sitko (69KG): 600 kilograms, 109.3%
- Prescillia Bavoil (69KG): 585 kilograms, 106.6%
- Carola Garra (69KG): 582.5 kilograms, 106.1%
- Evie Corrigan (52KG): 481 kilograms, 103.2%
- Brittany Schlater (84+KG): 710 kilograms, 102.4%
- Sonita Kyen Muluh (84+KG): 708 kilograms, 102.1%
- Karlina Tongotea (76KG): 610.5 kilograms, 101.8%
- Jade Jacob (57KG): 519.5 kilograms, 101.4%
- Natalie Richards (57KG): 516.5 kilograms, 100.8%
- Tiffany Chapon (47KG): 431.5 kilograms, 100.7%
- Amanda Lawrence (84KG): 647 kilograms, 100.3%
- Noémie Allabert (52KG): 447.5 kilograms, 97.3%
Schlater took home a prize purse of £9,000 (~$11,300). Muluh won £7,000 (~$8,800). Schlater and Muluh will next meet on the platform at the 2024 IPF Classic World Championships in Druskininkai, Lithuania.
Featured image: @sbdsheffield on Instagram
