Zuzanna Kula Bench World Record - Image credit @theipf & @kulaabulaa Instagram
Zuzanna Kula is making sure to represent Poland in the best way possible, often setting new records in her appearances. Well, that was certainly the case at the 2024 EPF Classic and Equipped Bench Press Championships, which took place from August 5-11 in Istanbul, Turkey. Zuzanna competed in the 57-kilogram weight class and managed to set a new 169-kilogram (372.6-pound) Equipped Bench Press IPF World Record.
Zuzanna Kula’s Full Performance
Zuzanna Kula weighed in at 53.80 kilograms (118.6 pounds) for the EPF European Bench Press Championships, which was significantly lower than the 57-kilogram cap for her weight class. However, that did not stop her from claiming the gold medal.
Zuzanna Kula started her path to victory off with a 162.5-kilogram (358.3-pound) bench press. This attempt alone would have been enough to take the victory, but at this point, Zuzanna was battling against herself. Getting a gold medal was the standard for her, but her main goal was to set a new World Record.
Consequently, Zuzanna Kula increased the weight to 169 kilograms (372.6 pounds) for her second attempt. This was 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) over the World Record, meaning that a lot of pressure was placed on the Polish powerlifter. So, she walked out onto the stage in her single-ply shirt and got ready to make her attempt. It was not easy, but Zuzanna ultimately managed to lock it out.
Zuzanna Kula then tried to further advance the record by an additional 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds). However, the loft didn’t quite go her way, and it ended up unsuccessful.
162.5 kilograms (358.3 pounds)
169 kilograms (372.6 pounds) — U57KG IPF World Record
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Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: August 17, 2023
Having locked out such a heavy bench press at an incredibly low bodyweight, Zuzanna Kula achieved an IPF GL score of 113.96 points. No other woman in the equipped division, regardless of the weight class, had managed to beat that. So, Zuzanna was also crowned as the best lifter in the women’s equipped division.
At just 25-years-old, Zuzanna Kula has already achieved a lot of stuff in the sport. She has been competing since 2018, during which she took part in over 45 sanctioned powerlifting competitions. The majority of those ended in a victory for her, including multiple IPF World and EPF European Bench Press Championships. However, Zuzanna still has a lot of years in front of her to win even more titles.
If you have questions or need clarifications, please leave a comment below, and Vedad will respond promptly.
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.
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