IPF Classic World Championships - 69kg class

Originally posted on IPF social media on 16th June 2023

Prescillia Bavoil of France was the 2021 world champion and holds world records in 2 weight classes. Last year, she missed weight and could not defend her title but she had redemption at the UK Arnold where she achieved the highest GL score of any female raw lifter in the IPF.  This year, she has moved up to the 69s where she faces a packed field of elite lifters.

Bavoil was the lightest lifter in class but this didn't stop her opening on squat fully 15kg ahead of anyone else.  She looked strong and confident and she called for 211.5kg for her final squat to extend her own squat world record.   The crowd roared their approval as she stood the weight up with ease and gave a huge smile at the top.

Bavoil got the squat gold but the remaining medals went to the B group.  Iris Scholten of the Netherlands took silver with 195kg and the bronze went to Marika Zandecka of Poland.

Marte Kjenner of Norway and junior world champion, France's Clara Peyraud, were evenly matched on 192.5kg with Kjenner taking the advantage due to 600g of bodyweight.

USA's Chelsea Savit smoked her 117.5kg opening bench and moved into second place.  127.5kg for her final bench was bang on the money and she closed the gap to Bavoil, snagging the bench gold as she went.

Tasmin Campbell of the UK had the bench grind of the day with 120kg and took the silver bench medal ahead of Kjenner on the same weight.  Never the biggest bencher, Bavoil was still 15kg ahead after bench with Savit a little over 10kg behind and Kjenner another 2.5kg back.

Peyraud's easy looking 212.5kg opener extended her junior total world record and put her in contention, only 2.5kg behind Kjenner.  Savit hit a bump however.  She lost her balance at the top of her opening deadlift and had to go again with nothing on the board.  She went up to 210kg and this matched Peyraud on total but didn't pass her as Savit was 50g heavier.  Bavoil broke the total world record by half a kilo with her 222.5kg second deadlift top the noisy approval of the crowd.

Into the final round and Bavoil put in 240.5kg for her final lift.  This gave her the opportunity to go last and react to any challenges.   Kjenner lost her grip on her final pull and had a nervous wait to see if she would lose the silver medal too.

Peyraud next and she defended the bronze medal with a junior deadlift world record of 227.5kg and was overcome with emotion as she left the platform.

With no more to prove, Bavoil did not take another attempt but she used the time to come out onto the platform to thank the audience.  They screamed themselves hoarse for her as she skipped and laughed around the platform, celebrating her second world championship title.  The queen is back on her throne.

Prescillia Bavoil   FRA   549kg

Marte Kjenner   NOR   532.5

Clara Peyraud   FRA   530kg