By the competition’s end, Strik recorded a 132.5-kilogram (292.1-pound) raw bench press on her best attempt. The figure is a raw Masters 2 (ages 50 to 59) World Record in Strik’s 84-kilogram division, where the athlete came in first place thanks to her top lift. Strik utilized wrist wraps during her record milestone but otherwise completed the bench press completely raw.

Strik, who is a frequent and successful single-lift bench press specialist at competitions, broke the record in commanding fashion. The previous mark of 123 kilograms (271.1 pounds) was set by Tammy Walker at the 2019 NAPF North American Regional Bench Press Championships. In her recent performance, Strik broke the record on her very first bench press attempt (125 kilograms/275.5 pounds), inched the record higher with her next attempt (127.5 kilograms/281.1 pounds), and finished the day with her decisive lift.

Per her personal page on Open Powerlifting, Strik is a seasoned powerlifter, beginning her sanctioned career over two decades ago at the 2001 Nederlandse Powerlifting Bond (NPB) Dutch Powerlifting Championships. In the time since, Strik has recorded an astonishing 100 separate victories in single-lift or full-power meets, both raw and equipped in some capacity. There’s prolific and then there’s seemingly competing and thriving in every opportunity thrown one’s way. Strik appears to fit more of the latter description as an athlete.

Here’s an overview of Strik’s all-time raw competition bests:

lelja Strik | All-Time Raw Competition Bests

• Squat — 209.9 kilograms (462.9 pounds)
• Bench Press — 144.9 kilograms (319.6 pounds)
• Deadlift — 209.9 kilograms (462.9 pounds)
• Total — 556.9 kilograms (1,227.9 pounds)

Strik’s competitive resume is mostly Dutch-oriented, but the athlete can count various European and International World raw and equipped titles throughout her extensive resume.

While impossible to confirm outright, Strik could be reasonably viewed as one of the most productive powerlifters in the history of strength sports. That makes her latest accomplishment yet another impressive notch in the athlete’s lifting belt.

Featured image: @theipf on Instagram

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According to the IPF records database, Kodama’s lift officially surpasses his peer Owen Hubbard, who bench pressed 218.5 kilograms (481.7 pounds) for the past record in the 83-kilogram class. Kodama wore wrist wraps and a lifting belt to help achieve his milestone. Both pieces of equipment constitute raw implements in a sanctioned powerlifting context.

Kodama actually participated as both a raw and equipped competitor at the 2023 IPF World Bench Press Championships. In addition to his raw IPF World Record, Kodama recorded a 275-kilogram (606.2-pound) bench press while wearing a single-ply shirt during the equipped portion. While the lift isn’t an IPF World Record, it was enough to give Kodama another first-place result in the competition.

Per his page on Open Powerlifting, Kodama is a predominant bench press-only competitor. In a career spanning back to September 2001, Kodama has been a participant in full power meets on just four occasions. With his raw and equipped first-place performances from the 2023 IPF World Bench Press Championships, Kodama can now boast more than 20 separate gold medals (raw and equipped) from the contest as recognition of his remarkable upper-body strength.

In his native Japan, Kodama is also a frequent participant in Japanese bench press competitions. The athlete can highlight another 20+ distinct gold medals, both raw and equipped, in bench press-only Japanese competitions. (Note: This does not count victories in competitions featuring a specific profession, such as law enforcement or firefighters, as the main class of competitors.)

Notably, Kodama also possesses the IPF Raw World Record bench press in the 74-kilogram division. He scored this lift of 225 kilograms (496 pounds) at the 2019 IPF World Men’s Open Classic Bench Press Championships, which ironically took place in Japan during the spring of 2019.

At this stage of his powerlifting career, Kodama likely has nothing else to prove. His rap sheet has established him as arguably one of the greatest bench pressers of all time. At the very least, he’s certainly been one of the most prolific. However, rewriting the record books yet another time had to be a satisfying milestone for this seasoned upper-body specialist.

Featured image: @theipf on Instagram

The post Daiki Kodama (83KG) Bench Presses 230.5 Kilograms (508.1 Pounds) for IPF Raw World Record appeared first on Breaking Muscle.