Author Jo Whiteley
European champion since 2018, Vilma Olsson (SWE) had a strong start on squats in the 76kg class, taking the gold medal with 205kg but missing an attempt to add half a kilo to her own junior world record. Ellen Gronlund (FIN) in only her second international competition, squatted a great looking 192.5kg for the squat silver, showing a lot of promise for what’s to come.
As expected, Laura Mautalen punched a massive hole in the competition with an incredible 140kg bench which would prove to be the biggest bench in the junior women’s competition in any weight class. Going into deads, Mautalen was only 5kg ahead of Olsson but she opened 20kg heavier and just kept on nailing lifts, going 9 for 9 and taking second place in the best lifter contest.
Erholove Izobobe-John (GBR) finally had her long anticipated international debut and she looked incredibly calm and serene the entire time. She took European records on squat (208kg) and deadlift (240.5kg) – the biggest deadlift of the competition – for an impressive first appearance and her first European title.
No longer shackled by the confines of the 84kg class, Ireland’s Lystus Ebosele unleashed her might on the superheavyweight class for the first time in international competition and she was streets ahead, taking gold in every discipline. She squatted 220kg with ease – the biggest female squat in the competition so far – and no one could close the gap.
No surprise then that France took the team award with a perfect score – five world champions – demonstrating the strength of raw powerlifting in France right now. They are giving us some of the best lifters in the world at the moment and we are glad to see they have a junior team to match their open.