The 84kg class led out on the last day of the World Open Equipped Powerlifting Championships in Stavanger, Norway.
Heidi Hille Arnesen of Norway extended her own M2 world record on her second squat and pushed it even further to 250kg on her third. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Daria Rusanenko broke the junior world record with her second of 265kg but 274kg wasn’t quite there for an open world record.
Rhaea Stinn came into her own on bench, pushing up her world record by 5kg on her second and all the way to an incredible 223kg on her third. This gave her a commanding lead going into deadlift with Tetyana Melnyk of Ukraine looking well placed in second.
However, powerlifting is a game of three parts and things soon changed on deadlift when Norway’s Anna Heranger sailed into 2nd place with an easy looking 210kg for her opener. Arnesen had a great day, pushing her M2 deadlift and total world records up to 207.5kg and 607.5kg respectively. Going into the final round, Stinn was clearly the new world champion but the rest of the podium places were not safe.
Lightest in bodyweight, Melnyk pulled 200kg to get back into silver medal position and Rusanenko managed a heroic 212.5kg for the bronze. Home nation hero Heranger attempted 220kg for the silver but it was just too heavy and she finished off the podium with 2nd, 3rd and 4th places going on bodyweight. It could not have been closer.
