First published on IPF social media on 14th June 2023
The 57kg class has been dominated by GBR's Joy Nnamani in the last four world championships but she has now moved up to the 63, leaving this class wide open.
In the 57kg class, France's Jade Jacob started strong with a junior world record at 182.5kg. Bobbie Butters GBR took squat silver with 182.5kg, just missing an attempt at 186kg to extend her own world record. Newcomer to the international stage, Natalie Richards of the USA, squatted 180kg and picked up her first IPF medal.
It didn't take long to get her second - she beat Butters to the bench gold on bodyweight with 107.5kg. Special mention goes to Dana Ye-Lee of New Zealand whose 100kg press took the bronze.
Butters held a fragile lead at sub-total but started to fall back once the deadlifters got underway. Jacob catapulted herself into first place with a massive 215kg opener, 7.5kg ahead of Richards but Richards took a bigger jump to her second and moved ahead on bodyweight.
Meanwhile Spain's junior world champion, Maiara da Silva Dias, was sneaking up on Butters, only 5kg behind as we moved into the final round. She pulled 205kg to snatch the bronze medal and pushed Butters off the podium entirely.
Richards next and she smashed Jacob's total world record with a comfortable looking 225kg pull and we waited to see if Jacob could respond. She loaded up and gave it absolutely everything, but it was just too much and she fell to the platform, having used up every scrap of strength.
Richards takes the win and the world record total along with it. This was a really exciting finish in front of a boisterous crowd and we loved it.
Natalie Richards USA 512.5kg
Jade Jacob FRA 502.5kg
Maiara da Silva Dias ESP 472.5kg
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