The 2022 Powerlifting America (AMP) Classic (Raw) Sub-Junior, Junior, and Master Nationals took place on June 18-19, 2022, in Orlando, FL. Although a few younger athletes, like Mahailya Reeves, gathered some attention, the 64-year-old Dora Justice managed to do the same.
Dora competed in the raw 57-kilogram weight class of the Masters 3 (60-69-year-old), and despite finishing in second place, she scored a new AMP American Bench Press Record of 72.5 kilograms (159.8 pounds).
Dora Justice opened her bench press campaign with a 65-kilogram (143.3 pounds) lift. She then added another 5 kilograms (11 pounds) for her second attempt, which was also successful. For her third and record-breaking attempt, Dora loaded 72.5 kilograms (159.8 pounds), which actually looked very easy for her. With another successful lift, Dora claimed a new National record.
Dora Justice’s Full Performance
Dora Justice weighed in at 56.5 kilograms (124.5 pounds) for the 2022 AMP Nationals. She crushed all other attempts, meaning that she went nine for nine and didn’t miss a single lift.
“Dora Justice @doraa_puente with a national record 72.5kg/159lb bench press in the 57kg master III class. Dora was a huge crowd favorite at Master’s Nationals because she got hyped up for every lift and was clearly having the most fun!”
Dora Justice started her professional powerlifting career back in 2003, under the name Dora Puente. Since then she accumulated 30 appearances in sanctioned powerlifting competitions and failed to win only four times. She has slightly better competition PRs than what she lifted at the 2022 AMP Nationals, but she is defying the process of aging by maintaining her shape.
Dora Justice’s Greatest Performances
2022 AMP Bench Press Nationals — First-place
2021 USAPL Equipped Bench Nationals — First-place
2020 USAPL Iron Wars — First-place
2019 USAPL Bench Nationals — First-place
2017 NAPF North American Bench Press Championships — First-place
2008 WPF World Championships — First-place
2007 WPF World Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships — First-place
World Masters Classic & Equipped Powerlifting Championships
Masters 3
589.7
310.36
Location
Canada-NL
Competition
World Masters Classic & Equipped Powerlifting Championships
Division
Masters 3
Age
~64.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
125.7
Weight
123.3
Squat
154.3
170.9
176.4
176.4
Bench
154.3
165.3
170.9
170.9
Deadlift
209.4
231.5
242.5
242.5
GLP
63.67
1
NAPF
2022-08-15
Pan-American Regional Bench Press Championships
Masters 3
176.4
92.84
Location
Puerto Rico
Competition
Pan-American Regional Bench Press Championships
Division
Masters 3
Age
~64.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
125.7
Weight
123.2
Bench
154.3
165.3
176.4
176.4
GLP
72.17
2
AMP
2022-06-18
Nationals
FR-M3
534.6
279.44
Location
USA-FL
Competition
Nationals
Division
FR-M3
Age
64
Equipment
Raw
Class
125.7
Weight
124.6
Squat
132.3
143.3
154.3
154.3
Bench
143.3
154.3
159.8
159.8
Deadlift
176.4
198.4
220.5
220.5
GLP
57.26
1
AMP
2022-02-27
Bench Press Nationals
F-M3
176.4
92.54
Location
USA-FL
Competition
Bench Press Nationals
Division
F-M3
Age
64
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
125.7
Weight
123.8
Bench
170.9
176.4
-181.9
176.4
GLP
52.21
1
AMP
2022-02-27
Bench Press Nationals
FR-M3
159.8
84.29
Location
USA-FL
Competition
Bench Press Nationals
Division
FR-M3
Age
64
Equipment
Raw
Class
125.7
Weight
122.9
Bench
148.8
159.8
-163.1
159.8
GLP
65.54
1
USAPL
2021-06-14
Raw Bench Nationals
FR-M3
160.9
84.94
Location
USA-FL
Competition
Raw Bench Nationals
Division
FR-M3
Age
63
Equipment
Raw
Class
125.7
Weight
122.8
Bench
143.3
160.9
-163.1
160.9
GLP
66.05
1
USAPL
2021-06-14
Equipped Bench Nationals
F-M3
176.4
93.58
Location
USA-FL
Competition
Equipped Bench Nationals
Division
F-M3
Age
63
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
125.7
Weight
121.8
Bench
165.3
-176.4
176.4
176.4
GLP
52.86
1
USAPL
2021-03-20
29th Annual Military National Championships
FR-M3
159.8
84.35
Location
USA-FL
Competition
29th Annual Military National Championships
Division
FR-M3
Age
63
Equipment
Raw
Class
125.7
Weight
122.8
Bench
143.3
156.5
159.8
159.8
GLP
65.59
1
USAPL
2021-03-20
29th Annual Military National Championships
FR-MO
159.8
84.35
Location
USA-FL
Competition
29th Annual Military National Championships
Division
FR-MO
Age
63
Equipment
Raw
Class
125.7
Weight
122.8
Bench
143.3
156.5
159.8
159.8
GLP
65.59
1
USAPL
2020-12-05
Winter War of Waco
F-M
170.9
90.48
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Winter War of Waco
Division
F-M
Age
~62.5
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
125.7
Weight
122.1
Bench
159.8
170.9
-176.4
170.9
GLP
51.1
1
USAPL
2020-09-12
Iron Wars
FR-M3a
154.3
80.85
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Iron Wars
Division
FR-M3a
Age
~62.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
125.7
Weight
124.1
Bench
137.8
148.8
154.3
154.3
GLP
62.82
1
USAPL
2019-11-23
Longhorn Open
FR-M3a
143.3
76.05
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Longhorn Open
Division
FR-M3a
Age
~61.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
125.7
Weight
121.7
Bench
132.3
143.3
-148.8
143.3
GLP
59.19
1
USAPL
2019-11-23
Longhorn Open
FR-O
143.3
76.05
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Longhorn Open
Division
FR-O
Age
~61.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
125.7
Weight
121.7
Bench
132.3
143.3
-148.8
143.3
GLP
59.19
1
USAPL
2019-08-31
Bench Nationals
FR-M3
137.8
72.57
Location
USA-SD
Competition
Bench Nationals
Division
FR-M3
Age
~61.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
125.7
Weight
123.1
Bench
137.8
-143.3
-143.3
137.8
GLP
56.42
1
USAPL
2019-08-31
Bench Nationals
F-M3
165.3
86.53
Location
USA-SD
Competition
Bench Nationals
Division
F-M3
Age
~61.5
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
125.7
Weight
124.3
Bench
154.3
159.8
165.3
165.3
GLP
48.8
2
IPF
2019-05-18
World Bench Press Championships
Masters 3
159.8
83.92
Location
Japan
Competition
World Bench Press Championships
Division
Masters 3
Age
61
Equipment
Single-ply
Class
125.7
Weight
123.7
Bench
154.3
159.8
-165.3
159.8
GLP
47.34
2
IPF
2019-05-18
World Bench Press Championships
Masters 3
143.3
75.52
Location
Japan
Competition
World Bench Press Championships
Division
Masters 3
Age
61
Equipment
Raw
Class
125.7
Weight
123
Bench
137.8
143.3
-154.3
143.3
GLP
58.72
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: November 9, 2022
It is not clear what Dora Justice’s next step will be, but following her recent success, she definitely became a potential IPF Record Holder. If she wants to claim the IPF World Record, Dora will have to take part in a competition sanctioned by them. Nonetheless, Dora will definitely keep crushing the weights in the gym and come back even stronger the next time.
Andrew is a professional writer and a workaholic. He studied sports for 4 years and trained soccer for almost 15 years. In addition, for the past three years Andrew has been implementing functional training, with a dream or a plan to enroll in the special forces.
