Joy Nnamani in 2023 has given us some surprises. She competed at the British championships in the 63s for the first time but was back in the 57s at Sheffield a week later where she gave us another shock. Joy has always lifted unencumbered by the usual trappings of powerlifting, belts, knee sleeves, wrist wraps. But at Sheffield, she walked out onto that vast stage wearing all three and she knocked out a 5kg squat PB as a result.
Joy rocked out the belt and knee sleeves again at classic worlds and took 177.5kg for a 7.5kg PB on her second squat. 182.5kg was turned down for lack of depth but this one is going to climb and climb. Bench went smoothly and Joy matched her competition best with 102.5kg.
This put Joy in 6th place at sub-total - a strong place to be with your best lift still to come. 207.5kg for her opener shot from the floor like a rocket and she moved up to fourth. 225kg didn't slow her down much either.
With a podium place in sight, Joy loaded up a world record attempt of 240.5kg to close the show and snatch the bronze medal from Chiara Bernardi. She acknowledged the support of the crowd, settled herself and began the pull. Just below the knee, the bar stalled a little - did it dip? - she got it moving again but it stalled again mid thigh. With incredible patience and control she pulled back into lockout and got the down command. A groan of disappointment ran around the venue when two lights glowed red and the lift was not given. Blue card failures from the side referees suggest they thought the bar dipped.
Still, it was a victory of strength and, as disappointing as it might be for an athlete of this calibre to miss the podium, Joy Nnamani growing into a new weight class over the next couple of years is a delightful prospect and I can't wait to see that 63kg deadlift world record fall officially.
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