Norway’s Kjell Egil Bakkelund is a legend in the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). He has been winning world titles since he was a Junior back in 2011. Since then, he has scored a raw world title and four equipped world titles, most recently in Viborg, Denmark, in 2022. He also brought home gold from the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, AL.

Bakkelund has switched back and forth between raw and equipped lifting throughout his powerlifting career. In 2023, he seemed to focus more on raw meets, competing at the 2023 IPF Classic World Championships (CWC) in Malta and, recently, at the European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Classic Championships (ECC) in Tartu, Estonia.

Although Bakkelund was widely expected to win in the 74-kilogram weight class, few expected the performance he ultimately achieved on the day, which culminated in a raw world record deadlift of 330 kilograms (727.5 pounds) that pushed the raw total world record to 800 kilograms (1,764 pounds). Check out Bakkelund’s raw world record deadlift in the video below, courtesy of the IPF Instagram page:

With eight good lifts already on the board, Bakkelund set up for his final deadlift in his familiar sumo stance, using a lifting belt to help his intra-abdominal bracing. He took the barbell in a mixed grip and pulled the weight with apparent ease. After returning the bar to the platform, he stepped back and held his arms wide, inviting the admiration of the crowd. When three white lights shone forth, the audience erupted in delight as Bakkelund punched the air in triumph. A dominant performance comprised of the following lifts:

2023 EPF European Classic Powerlifting Championships Results – Kjell Egil Bakkelund (Norway) 74KG

• Squat
  • 245 kilograms (540 pounds)
  • 255 kilograms (562 pounds)
  • 262.5 kilograms (579 pounds)
• Bench Press
  • 192.5 kilograms (424 pounds)
  • 202.5 kilograms (446.5 pounds)
  • 207.5 kilograms (457.5 pounds)
• Deadlift
• • 310 kilograms (683 pounds)
  • 322.5 kilograms (711 pounds)
  • 330 kilograms (727.5 pounds) — New IPF Open World Record
• Total — 800 kilograms (1,764 pounds) — New IPF Open World Record
• • •  

Bakkelund broke the total world record with his second deadlift, adding two kilograms (4.5 pounds) to the record set by Taylor Atwood at the 2019 CWC in Helsingborg, Sweden.

The deadlift world record in the 74-kilogram class was set in Malta at the 2023 CWC by Carl Johansson, who pulled 328 kilograms (723 pounds) in dramatic style to win the world title. Although Bakkelund could have selected 328.5 kilograms (724 pounds) to break the record, he had his heart set on an 800 kilogram (1,764 pounds) total and loaded the 330 kilograms (727.5 pounds) he needed. Johansson will have the opportunity to attempt to recover the deadlift world record at the 2024 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships on Feb. 10, 2024, in the UK.

This outstanding performance gave Bakkelund the biggest total and the highest GL points score ever achieved in the 74-kilogram class on the international stage. Even after all these years in the sport, Bakkelund continues to improve. The ECC continues until Dec. 9, 2023, in Estonia. The action can be viewed live for free on the EPF’s YouTube channel.

Featured image: @ipf on Instagram

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