Originally published on King of the Lifts
57kg
In the 57kg class, Britain’s Bobbie Butters gave us a squat masterclass. Her technique and attempt
selection are always absolutely on point and she demonstrated this perfectly by moving her own
world record up to 185.5kg. Butters is a phenomenal bencher too and she took another gold here
with 112.5kg, incidentally a British record.
Alessandro Cernigliaro (ITA) and Sopiko Kvantchiani (GEO) were pretty evenly matched at sub-total
with Cernigliaro on 255kg and Kvantchiani only 5kg behind. Butters though was in a class of her own
with 298kg and her opening deadlift of 172.5kg put her out of reach of anyone else. A rare mistake
cost her her second deadlift but she re-took it successfully, giving her a 483kg total and the lead in
best lifter comeptition with 113.55 GL points.
Kvantchiani could not improve on her 160kg deadlift opener which left Cernigliaro to sail 20kg clear
for 430kg and the silver medal.
63kg
The 63kg class was all about the rivalry between two team mates – Chiara Bernardi and Sara Naldi,
both of Italy. They have faced off so many times already and the balance has swung back and forth.
Naldi held all the strategic cards at this one with lighter bodyweight and higher lot number but there
really wasn’t much in it.
They marched in lockstep on squats. 170kg .. 180kg … but on third attempts, Naldi forged ahead,
taking squat gold with 187.5kg ahead of Bernardi’s 185kg.
Lulova Radostina (BUL) and Signe Belden (NOR) fought briefly over the squat bronze but ultimately,
Belden nailed it with her third at 177.5kg.
Bernardi opened high on bench – 112.5kg – only 2.5kg down on her competition best, but it moved
well. Belden closed the gap to Naldi a little more with every bench but missed 115kg to match her at
sub-total. Bernardi missed 122.5kg for her 3rd but she still had a 10kg lead over Naldi going into
deadlifts with Belden only 5kg further back.
Bernardi was first out for 197.5kg and her game plan went right out of the window when she gave it
a wobble at the top, drawing two blue cards. Naldi’s 202.5kg response was fast and put her in pole
position. Undeterred – or maybe with no other options on the table if she wanted to stay ahead –
Bernardi went up to 207.5kg for her second. It was scrappy but it went all the way and put her back
in the lead. But here’s Naldi for 212.5kg and the gap closes to a bare 5kg.
After some jockeying for position and full use of 3 rd round attempt changes on deadlift, Bernardi
came out for 215kg. It was well judged lift, putting Bernardi on 517.5kg and giving Naldi a 225kg
mountain to climb to take the win.
The bar leapt from the floor but then slipped out of her hands and, as her coach fell to his knees with
his head in his hands, Naldi had to concede the title and settle for silver with Belden taking bronze.
Bernardi dropped into the Best Lifter race a fraction behind Bobbie Butters with 113.55 GL points,
pushing Tiff Chapon down to third and giving Team Italy its first win in the women’s competition.
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