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...
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Etienne El Chaer Raw Deadlift IPF World Record - Image credit @theipf & @chaeretienne Instagram
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Etienne El Chaer was a sensation in the Junior age class but, with the start of the 2024 season, he was no longer eligible to compete there. So, he made his Open age class debut at the 2024 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships, which took place on June 15-23, in Druskininkai, Lithuania. Etienne participated in the 120-kilogram weight class, where he ended up setting a 396-kilogram (873-pound) Raw Deadlift IPF World Record.
Etienne El Chaer had a bit of a rough start to the competition, but he still came into the deadlifts filled with confidence. In turn, he opened up with a huge 370-kilogram (815.7-pound) pull, which helped him move up the leaderboard standings.
Then, on his second attempt, Etienne El Chaer decided to go for a record-breaking deadlift of 396 kilograms (873 pounds). He managed to go through the motion but couldn’t quite meet the judging criteria. One of his knees seemed to be twitching, while he was also a bit slumped at lockout. So, having not shown control of the lift, his attempt was invalidated.
On his final attempt, Etienne El Chaer faced even more pressure, especially considering that he spent a lot of energy just minutes prior. In turn, his final attempt was much more difficult, but Etienne managed to lock it out properly and secure a U120KG IPF World Record.
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Etienne El Chaer displayed some incredible improvement on the squat, setting a new competition PR of 345 kilograms (760.6 pounds). However, once he moved on to the bench press, he found himself in a difficult situation.
Etienne El Chaer picked out 217 kilograms (478.4 pounds) for his first attempt, which turned out to be a massive mistake. Not only was he unsuccessful on his first attempt, but also on his second one. Luckily, he finally managed to lift the weight on his third attempt; otherwise, he would have been disqualified from the competition.
Ultimately, Etienne El Chaer ended the day with six successful attempts and a new World Record. He also placed second in his first ever Open IPF World Championships, showing that he has the potential to become the best in his weight class.
Squat
325 kilograms (716.5 pounds)
340 kilograms (749.6 pounds)
345 kilograms (760.6 pounds) — Competition PR
Bench Press
Unsuccessful — 217 kilograms (478.4 pounds)
Unsuccessful — 217 kilograms (478.4 pounds)
217 kilograms (478.4 pounds)
Deadlift
370 kilograms (815.7 pounds)
Unsuccessful — 396 kilograms (873 pounds)
396 kilograms (873 pounds) — U120KG IPF World Record
Total — 958.5 kilograms (2,113.1 pounds) — Competition PR
Data source: OpenPowerlifting. Data through September 26, 2026.
Etienne El Chaer has now taken part in four sanctioned powerlifting competitions and won three of them. He was a Junior World, Asian, and Arab champion, but is now looking to transfer his success over to the Open age class. The transition between the two is always difficult, but Etienne seems to be managing it well.
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.
