A record mark worthy of a stellar athlete.
The 2023 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Bench Press Championships saw the fall of several sacred records. One of them now belongs to 50-year-old Dutch powerlifter Lelja Striek, who helped rewrite the record books at the upper-body, single-lift strength competition in Sun City, South Africa, May 20-28, 2023.
At the end of the competition, The strike recorded 132.5-kilogram (292.1-lb) crude. Bench press In her best effort. The figure is a Raw Masters 2 (Age 50 to 59) World Record In the 84-kilogram category of the strike, the athlete came first with her top lift. Strike used wrist wraps during her record milestone but completed the bench press completely raw.
A frequent and successful single-lift bench press specialist in competitions, Strike broke the record in commanding fashion. The previous 123 kilograms (271.1 pounds) was set by Tammy Walker at the 2019 NAPF North American Regional Bench Press Championships. In her latest performance, Strike broke the record on her first bench press attempt (125 kilograms/275.5 pounds), increased the record with her next attempt (127.5 kilograms/281.1 pounds) and finished the day with her decisive lift.
According to her personal page Open Powerlifting, Striek is a seasoned powerlifter who began her sanctioned career two decades ago at the 2001 Nederlands Powerlifting Bond (NPB) Dutch Powerlifting Championships. In those days, Strike recorded an astonishing 100 individual victories in single-lift or full-power meets., crude and furnished in some capacity. Prospering there and then seemingly competing and thriving at every opportunity thrown one’s way. Strike seems to fit the latter description more as an athlete.
Here’s an overview of Strike’s all-time Raw competition bests:
Lelja Strike | Best of Raw competition of all time
- Squat – 209.9 kilograms (462.9 pounds)
- Bench press – 144.9 kilograms (319.6 pounds)
- Deadlift – 209.9 kilograms (462.9 pounds)
- Total – 556.9 kilograms (1,227.9 pounds)
Strike’s competitive resume is largely Dutch-based, but the athlete can count various European and international world raw and groomed titles throughout his extensive resume.
Although impossible to fully confirm, Strike can reasonably be viewed as one of the most productive powerlifters in the history of strength sports. That makes her latest feat another impressive notch in the athlete’s lifting belt.
Featured Image: @theipf on Instagram