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...
4 Min Read
Karlina Tongotea Sets Squat & Total IPF World Records - Image credit @karlina23 Instagram & @SBD Apparel YouTube
SHARE
Karlina Tongotea had one of the most outstanding performances at the 2025 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships, which took place on January 26th. She competed as a 76-kilogram athlete and managed to place second-overall in the women’s division. In order to achieve such success, Karlina locked out new Raw Squat & Total IPF World Records.
Karlina Tongotea’s Full Performance
Karlina Tongotea put up her greatest performance ever at the 2025 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships, proving that she is easily one of the greatest women’s powerlifters in the world. Moreover, she walked away with two new World Records, a silver medal, and £12,500.
Squat
Agata Sitko’s heaviest raw squat of the day came out to 231 kilograms (509.2 pounds). The decision to lift this much weight was very strategic, as it was just enough to chip the IPF World Record. She quickly dropped down with the bar, making sure that none of her energy goes to waste. Karlina then started squatting back up explosively, gradually slowing down but managing to lock out the lift.
Karlina Tongotea also tried to squat 236 kilograms (520.3 pounds) on her third attempt. Unfortunately, she was unable to move the bar after reaching the required depth.
Get Fitter, Faster
Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!
220 kilograms (485 pounds)
231 kilograms (509.2 pounds) — IPF World Record
Unsuccessful — 236 kilograms (520.3 pounds)
*Karlina Tongotea also held the previous U76KG IPF Raw Squat World Record of 230.5-kg (508.2-lb), which she set at the 2024 IPF Sheffield Powerlifting Championships.
Having achieved her best ever squat beforehand, Karlina Tongotea was full of confidence going into her bench press session. That resulted in a perfect outing with three successful attempts and a press of 130 kilograms (286.6 pounds). So, her path to the Total World Record continued as planned.
122.5 kilograms (270 pounds)
127.5 kilograms (281.1 pounds)
130 kilograms (286.6 pounds)
Deadlift
Karlina Tongotea’s plan on the deadlift was very clear, as she needed to pull 252.5 kilograms (556.6 pounds) to claim the Total record. So, on her second attempt, Karlina decided to load that exact weight. Apart from a bit of shaking during the lift, Karlina comfortably locked out the pull, achieving her main goal.
Get Fitter, Faster
Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!
Next up, Karlina Tongotea decided to load a 255-kilogram (562.1-pound) deadlift, with the goal of rising to the second-place overall. The lift did not look much different from her second attempt, with Karlin reaching lockout and completing her plan.
240 kilograms (529.1 pounds)
252.5 kilograms (556.6 pounds)
255 kilograms (562.1 pounds)
Total — 616 kilograms (1,358 pounds) — IPF World Record
*Agata Sitko held the previous U76KG IPF Raw Total World Record of 613-kg (1,351.4-lb). She set that record at the 2024 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships.
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: August 17, 2023
After she lost at the 2024 IPF World Championships, Karlina Tongotea turned her disappointment into motivation for the Sheffield Powerlifting Championships. A slight change in her approach clearly resulted in massive benefits for her. Ending up with two new World Records, Karlina continued to improve her already impressive resume.
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.
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and
YouTube for even more content.
