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...
The 2023 IPF World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships took place from June 11-18, in Valletta, Malta. Lasting for an entire week, this competition saw a couple World Records fall each day. So, as the final day rolled around, everyone hoped that it would bring something amazing to wrap up the competition. While the expectation was that Jesus Olivares or Bonica Brown would be the most exciting lifters, Sonita Muluh was the one who put up the most notable performance. This is because she squatted 285.5 kilograms (629.4 pounds) for the +84-kilogram weight class All-Time World Record.
Sonita Muluh opened up her squat session with a 260-kilogram (573.2-pound) lift, which obviously went up like nothing was on the bar. So, she moved up to 277.5 kilograms (611.8 pounds) for her second attempt. Once she succeeded, Sonita decided that her third squat attempt would be over the All-Time World Record. However, she even made 285.5 kilograms (629.4 pounds) look easy, despite the fact that no one has squatted as much weight before her.
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Sonita Muluh ended up taking second place at the 2023 IPF World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships. The only woman who managed to land a heavier Total than Sonita was Brittany Schlater of Canada. However, it was a tight battle and one in which Sonita Muluh had the chance to win.
Sonita Muluh was leading the +84-kilogram weight class at one point of the competition and even had the chance to win the competition with her final deadlift attempt of 267.5 kilograms (589.7 pounds). She gave it her all, pulling the weight up from the floor, but could not lock it out despite persistent efforts.
Jewel Tasi (NZL) — 647.5 kilograms (1,427.5 pounds)
The last year’s champion, Bonica Brown, was also present at the 2023 IPF World Championships, and even put up a heavier squat than Sonita Muluh. Bonica managed to squat 289 kilograms (637.1 pounds) on her third attempt.
However, she was not successful in any of her three deadlift attempts, which made her “bomb out”. This means that her score in all events was completely invalid since she did not successfully perform at least one of her three deadlift attempts.
Furthermore, although Bonica Brown squatted more weight than Sonita Muluh, the “bomb out” made her World Record invalid as well. This rule has been specified in the IPF Rulebook for 2023.
“Records on individual lifts must be accompanied by a total of the three lifts.”
This was Sonita Muluh’s second appearance at the IPF World Championships and a massive improvement from her fifth place finish back in 2021. She has taken part in some other competitions as well, with her standout result being a victory at the 2022 EPF European Classic Powerlifting Championships. Overall, Sonita has taken part in 13 sanctioned competitions and won nine of them.
Just two years ago, Sonita Muluh was nowhere near the All-Time Squat World Record, as her competition PR at that time was 200 kilograms (440.9 pounds). However, in just two years, Sonita made an improvement of 85.5 kilograms (188.5 pounds) in the squat and advanced her other PRs as well. So, she is now in possession of the Heaviest Squat in the history of Women’s Raw Powerlifting. Furthermore, if she keeps improving the way she has in the past two years, there won’t be anyone capable of matching her in the future.
Sonita Muluh’s Competition History
Sonita Muluh's Powerlifting History
Personal Bests
Equip
Squat
Bench
Deadlift
Total
Dots
Raw
702.2
347.2
606.3
1,655.7
583.06
Competition Results
Details
Place
Fed
Date
Competition
Division
Total
Dots
DQ
IPF
Jun 12, 2026
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
-
-
Competition
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Location
Lithuania
Age
29
Equipment
Raw
Class
185.2+
Weight
315.5
Squat
661.4
708.8
-737.4
708.8
Bench
336.2
347.2
358.3
358.3
Deadlift
-573.2
-600.8
-606.3
-
1
EPF
Mar 14, 2026
European Open Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
1,554.3
545.93
Competition
European Open Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Location
Malta
Age
29
Equipment
Raw
Class
185.2+
Weight
313.1
Squat
551.2
595.2
639.3
639.3
Bench
297.6
314.2
330.7
330.7
Deadlift
507.1
551.2
584.2
584.2
4
IPF
Jan 30, 2026
Sheffield Powerlifting Championships
Open
1,655.7
583.06
Competition
Sheffield Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Location
UK
Age
29
Equipment
Raw
Weight
307.1
Squat
661.4
702.2
-718.7
702.2
Bench
325.2
341.7
347.2
347.2
Deadlift
551.2
589.7
606.3
606.3
1
KBGV
Oct 24, 2025
Belgisch Kampioenschap - Championnats de Belgique - Powerlifting - Classic - Open
Open
1,433.0
506.10
Competition
Belgisch Kampioenschap - Championnats de Belgique - Powerlifting - Classic - Open
Division
Open
Location
Belgium
Age
28
Equipment
Raw
Class
185.2+
Weight
301.6
Squat
496.0
606.3
-661.4
606.3
Bench
275.6
-292.1
-
275.6
Deadlift
496.0
551.2
-
551.2
1
FFForce
Oct 3, 2025
Girl Power
Open
1,606.1
565.84
Competition
Girl Power
Division
Open
Location
France
Age
28
Equipment
Raw
Weight
306.2
Squat
617.3
661.4
702.2
702.2
Bench
286.6
308.6
-330.7
308.6
Deadlift
540.1
573.2
595.2
595.2
2
IPF
Aug 13, 2025
World Games
Super Heavy
1,603.9
567.37
Competition
World Games
Division
Super Heavy
Location
China
Age
28
Equipment
Raw
Weight
298.8
Squat
672.4
-717.6
-717.6
672.4
Bench
336.2
347.2
-358.3
347.2
Deadlift
551.2
584.2
-606.3
584.2
2
IPF
Jun 7, 2025
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
1,581.8
560.51
Competition
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Location
Germany
Age
28
Equipment
Raw
Class
185.2+
Weight
296.0
Squat
650.4
694.5
-712.1
694.5
Bench
330.7
-347.2
347.2
347.2
Deadlift
540.1
-584.2
-589.7
540.1
NS
VGPF
May 31, 2025
Kwalificatiewedstrijd 2
Open
-
-
Competition
Kwalificatiewedstrijd 2
Division
Open
Location
Belgium
Age
28
Equipment
Raw
Class
185.2+
Weight
295.9
1
EPF
Mar 17, 2025
European Open Classic Powerlifting Championship
Open
1,621.5
574.38
Competition
European Open Classic Powerlifting Championship
Division
Open
Location
Spain
Age
28
Equipment
Raw
Class
185.2+
Weight
296.6
Squat
661.4
701.1
-
701.1
Bench
319.7
336.2
-341.7
336.2
Deadlift
540.1
584.2
-606.3
584.2
3
IPF
Jan 25, 2025
Sheffield Powerlifting Championships
Open
1,605.0
568.14
Competition
Sheffield Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Location
UK
Age
28
Equipment
Raw
Weight
297.7
Squat
650.4
690.0
-717.6
690.0
Bench
319.7
330.7
341.7
341.7
Deadlift
-562.2
573.2
-589.7
573.2
1
IPF
Jun 14, 2024
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
1,611.6
575.88
Competition
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Location
Lithuania
Age
27
Equipment
Raw
Class
185.2+
Weight
284.3
Squat
628.3
663.6
685.6
685.6
Bench
314.2
325.2
336.2
336.2
Deadlift
551.2
578.7
589.7
589.7
1
EPF
Mar 11, 2024
European Open Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
1,471.6
527.41
Competition
European Open Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Location
Croatia
Age
27
Equipment
Raw
Class
185.2+
Weight
280.7
Squat
518.1
562.2
606.3
606.3
Bench
286.6
308.6
-319.7
308.6
Deadlift
518.1
556.7
-575.4
556.7
NS
VGPF
Feb 23, 2024
Kwalificatiewedstrijd 1
Open
-
-
Competition
Kwalificatiewedstrijd 1
Division
Open
Location
Belgium
Age
27
Equipment
Raw
Class
185.2+
Weight
276.9
6
IPF
Feb 9, 2024
Sheffield Powerlifting Championships
Open
1,560.9
560.13
Competition
Sheffield Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Location
UK
Age
27
Equipment
Raw
Weight
279.2
Squat
595.2
640.4
662.5
662.5
Bench
308.6
325.2
-336.2
325.2
Deadlift
-540.1
551.2
573.2
573.2
1
EPF
Dec 3, 2023
European Open Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
1,488.1
534.65
Competition
European Open Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Location
Estonia
Age
27
Equipment
Raw
Class
185.2+
Weight
277.8
Squat
529.1
573.2
606.3
606.3
Bench
275.6
297.6
314.2
314.2
Deadlift
523.6
567.7
-
567.7
G
FFForce
Jun 30, 2023
Silent Worker Meet
Prime Time
578.7
209.21
Competition
Silent Worker Meet
Division
Prime Time
Location
France
Age
26
Equipment
Raw
Weight
271.2
Deadlift
518.1
551.2
578.7
578.7
2
IPF
Jun 10, 2023
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
1,517.9
548.66
Competition
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Location
Malta
Age
26
Equipment
Raw
Class
185.2+
Weight
271.3
Squat
573.2
611.8
629.4
629.4
Bench
297.6
-314.2
314.2
314.2
Deadlift
540.1
574.3
-589.7
574.3
1
KBGV
Apr 7, 2023
Belgisch Kampioenschap - Championnats de Belgique - Powerlifting - Classic - Open
Open
1,433.0
521.42
Competition
Belgisch Kampioenschap - Championnats de Belgique - Powerlifting - Classic - Open
If you have any questions or need further clarification about this news, please leave a comment below, and Vedad will get back to you as soon as possible.
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.