Erholove Izobodo John IPF Junior Deadlift World Record - Image credit @gbpowerfed Instagram
Britainโs greatest female deadlifter in powerlifting, Erholove Izobodo-John, was back in action over the past weekend, which saw her set a new 263-kilogram (579.8-pound) Raw Deadlift IPF Junior World Record. She set the mark at the 2024 EPF European Classic Open Powerlifting Championships, which took place on March 12-17 in Velika Gorica, Croatia. Erholove competed in the U84KG weight class, which is where she set her record as well.
Erholove Izobodo-John was placed second overall after the squat and bench press were wrapped up. So, she knew that she needed to land a huge pull in order to win the competition. However, her first two attempts at 237.5 kilograms (523.6 pounds) and 250 kilograms (551.2 pounds), respectively, were still far from the number that she needed.
It turned out that Erholove Izobodo-John had to deadlift 263 kilograms (579.8 pounds) to secure the win, which was 10 kilograms (22 pounds) heavier than the previous U84KG IPF Junior World Record. However, despite all odds, Erholove managed to deadlift the weight with a perfectly executed sumo stance and mixed grip technique. Thus, she walked away with a new record and the gold medal.
Erholove Izobodo-John has now won her first EPF European Championships title in the Open age class, and it did not come without an epic battle. Her final deadlift of the competition allowed her to tie Ziana Azariahโs Total of 583 kilograms (1,285.3 pounds). So, it came down to a tiebreaker, meaning that the person with the lower bodyweight would come out victorious.
Luckily for Erholove, she was 1.4 kilograms (3.1 pounds) lighter than her rival, which meant that she took the title. However, apart from the title and the deadlift IPF Junior World Record, she also managed to set one EPF European Open Record and three EPF European Junior Records.
Squat
200 kilograms (440.9 pounds)
212.5 kilograms (468.5 pounds)
215 kilograms (474 pounds) โ U84KG EPF Junior European Record
Bench Press
100 kilograms (220.5 pounds)
105 kilograms (231.5 pounds)
Unsuccessful โ 107.5 kilograms (237 pounds)
Deadlift
237.5 kilograms (523.6 pounds)
250 kilograms (551.2 pounds)
263 kilograms (579.8 pounds) โ U84kg IPF Junior World Record, EPF Open & Junior European Record, and Competition PR
Total โ 583 kilograms (1,285.3 pounds) โ U84KG EPF Junior European Record & Competition PR
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: August 17, 2023
Erholove Izobodo-John has taken part in nine sanctioned powerlifting competitions over the course of her career and has never placed below first place. So, she is managing to maintain a 100% win streak and boasts some prestigious titles, including EPF European Open and Junior Championships. Hopefully, she will continue conquering competitions and even reach the throne at the IPF World Championships in the future.
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Vedad is a journalist specializing in strength sports, with three years of experience covering powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, strongman, armwrestling and bodybuilding. He is a lifelong fitness enthusiast, passionate about all aspects of strength training. Vedad's in-depth knowledge of training methodologies and dedication to constant research fuel his insightful and engaging reporting. He works hard to deliver accurate content while continuously seeking to improve his craft.