Last week we held the 2025 World Open Classic Powerlifting World Championships in Chemnitz, Germany, and it was a fantastic event.
387 athletes travelled from 60 countries to participate, up from 318 last year. 46% of these lifters were women, bringing us closer to parity than the 43% we saw last year. We were also delighted to welcome six Special Olympics athletes, who gave it their all on the world’s stage.
World records were broken 47 times, and we witnessed the biggest deadlift ever done in IPF history by a woman, either in classic or equipped - Natalie Laalaai with an incredible 285.5kg deadlift. We also had the highest GL points score ever recorded - Agata Sitko with 133.37 points.
In some classes, established world champions added another world title to their collection. In others, new faces rose to the top, some of them junior athletes.
Packed audiences gave vocal support and made for an exciting atmosphere throughout, especially when accompanied by a noisy bass drum!
I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to the athletes for their dedication to the sport. Their achievements gave us dramatic moments and breathtaking finishes.
Thank you to the coaches, referees, and volunteers who worked so hard to make this a successful championship. Thanks also go to the spotters and loaders who kept our lifters safe. The media teams also worked tirelessly to showcase our athletes in the best way possible.
I would like to offer my personal thanks to the meet director, Detlev Albrings, Technical Secretary Veronika Kondraschow, and to the German Powerlifting Federation as a whole for their efforts. The competition ran efficiently and consistently to time, demonstrating brilliant planning and dedication from the organising committee.
I would like to also thank our presenting partners, SBD and Eleiko, and our destination partner, VisitMalta, whose unwavering support makes these championships possible.
Sigurjón Petursson
IPF President
On behalf of the Executive Committee
