The Junior 63KG class at the 2024 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) Junior World Championships (JWC) promised excitement from the outset, and it certainly delivered that, with world records being broken no less than eight times.
The defending world champion, Sweden’s Alba Boström, was the favorite to win, particularly after her success in the open class at the 2024 Classic World Championships (CWC) in Druskininkai, Lithuania, where she won fourth place in a stacked class. However, there was an intense three-way battle behind her for the rest of the podium places, and the record books were collateral damage.
Squat
- GOLD —Nataleigh Hunter (USA) — 195.5 kilograms — IPF Junior World Record
- SILVER — Alba Boström (Sweden) — 193 kilograms — IPF Junior European Record
- BRONZE — Lucy Robinson (UK) — 182.5 kilograms
First blood went to Boström, who broke the Junior squat world record in the second round with an easy-looking 185.5 kilograms. However, this was immediately eclipsed by USA lifter Nataleigh Hunter, who made short work of 190.5 kilograms.
Boström took the record back on her third squat of 193 kilograms, but, again, it only stood for a couple of minutes before Hunter secured it with 195.5 kilograms. Check out the huge squat below, courtesy of the IPF’s Instagram page:
[Related: Junior Powerlifter Jessica Espinal (47KG) Breaks IPF Total World Record]
Bench Press
Boström took the lead with her opening bench press of 122.5 kilograms, outstripping her rivals by over 20 kilograms. She broke the Junior bench press world record with an incredible 133.5-kilogram press. Check it out below:
Hunter maintained second place through bench presses. However, two challengers started to close the gap when she missed her final attempt of 102.5 kilograms.
Betty Aborah of the Netherlands is the Open world record holder in the deadlift, having lifted 232 kilograms at the 2024 Euro Muscle Show in Amsterdam in July. At this event, she was closely matched with the other American in the weight class, Angelina Martinez. After bench pressing, their sub-totals were identical, with Aborah ahead due to her 50 grams lighter body weight.
- GOLD —Alba Boström (Sweden) — 133.5 kilograms — IPF Junior World Record
- SILVER — Elsa Prandi Merino (Spain) — 110 kilograms
- BRONZE — Anne-Laure Thomassin (France) — 105 kilograms
[Related: Done Murali Krishna (59KG) Scores IPF Equipped World Junior Deadlift Record]
Deadlift
Boström’s deadlift opener of 205 kilograms put her 50 kilograms ahead of her nearest rival and broke her Junior total world record with 531.5 kilograms. Further down the ranks, the order shifted when Aborah jumped two kilograms ahead of Hunter with her 210-kilogram opener.
These positions were maintained through the second round of deadlifts, but Martinez jumped to 225 kilograms for her final lift, moving her into second place. However, Aborah was out next and matched the lift, moving past on body weight and securing the overall silver medal.
Boström had the final deadlift and pulled 227.5 kilograms for the deadlift gold, extending her Junior total world record even further.
- GOLD — Alba Boström (Sweden) — 225 kilograms
- SILVER — Betty Aborah (Netherlands) — 225 kilograms
- BRONZE — Angelina Martinez (USA) — 225 kilograms
Total
Boström went nine for nine, scoring a 554-kilogram total. She broke the Junior total world record with every deadlift and finished three and a half kilograms below the Open total world record.
Notably, Boström’s total exceeded the winning total in the open class at the 2024 CWC. She also hit a GL points score of 121.39 — the highest ever achieved raw by a Swedish powerlifter.
- GOLD — Alba Boström (Sweden) — 554 kilograms
- SILVER — Betty Aborah (Netherlands) — 495 kilograms
- BRONZE — Angelina Martinez (USA) — 495 kilograms
Even after such a busy year, Boström will return to the platform at the 2024 European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Junior Classic in Pilsen, Czechia. However, she has entered the weight class above: the 69 kg class. That will be her final appearance in the Junior category, but she seems ready for the open class.
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Featured image: @theipf on Instagram
