Junior Worlds closed with the big lads and they gave us a brilliant finish.
The Brits dominated in the sub-junior heavyweight classes. Nonso Chinye in the 120s was streets ahead, breaking sub-junior world records in squat (308.5kg), deadlift (360.5kg) and total (851.5kg). This is the heaviest deadlift and total ever achieved by a sub-junior in the IPF.
His team-mate, Joshua Ngoka in the 120+kg class, broke the sub-junior deadlift world record with 320kg and the total world record with 800kg. He took all the gold medals on his way to victory - an incredible performance from someone only just making their start in the sport.
Squats were neck and neck in the junior 120kg class. Three men squatted 340kg so split the medals on bodyweight, Romar Paul Harayo USA taking the gold medal. Jonah Wiendeck GER was one of the three and he went on to break the bench press world record, first with 245.5kg and then again with 250.5kg. This put him 40kg ahead of nearest rival, Etienne El Chaer LBN. However, El Chaer had a secret weapon, posting a massive 350kg to open his deadlift. Things did not run entirely to plan though when he tipped forward at the top of the pull and it was not passed.
Meanwhile, Wiendeck had broken the junior total world record with his 305kg opener and he extended it with his 322.5kg second all the way up to 913kg. El Chaer asked for 368.5kg, despite having nothing on the board - he pulled it fairly comfortably and took the junior deadlift world record as well as the total record. Wiendeck went up to 335kg to take back the total record and the lead in the competition with 925.5kg. El Chaer was unstoppable though and took 378.5kg to extend both records and take his first world title.
Temur Samkharadze GEO lifted in the junior 120+kg class but, in many ways, was in a class of his own. Silver medallist at open worlds, he stormed to a 1008kg total, taking the junior deadlift world record along the way with 388kg.
Team USA took the sub-junior team award ahead, not far ahead of Team GB with Team Finland in third place. Demir Hamza was best lifter, with Jordi van Heijningen in second and Nonso Chinye in third.
In the juniors, France was a clear winner with Spain just sneaking ahead of USA. Etienne El Chaer won Best Lifter with Jonah Wiendieck in second and Nathan Gevao in third.
We could not have asked for a more exciting and entertaining competition. Thank you to the organisers and officials and everyone who worked so hard to make this event a success. But most of all, thank you to the lifters who gave everything in pursuit of the sport we all love.
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