Ellis swelled with enthusiasm at her well-earned milestone.
For some, the 2022 European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Classic Powerlifting Championships were about extending a reign on top. For others, it was about having fun with a breakthrough podium moment, with quite a lot of near-victories within the rearview mirror. British powerlifter Sophia Ellis suits the latter category.
On Dec. 3, 2022, Ellis captured her first profession European title on the 2022 EPF European Championships. The athlete competed raw within the 76-kilogram weight class — her competitive division dating back to early March 2020. The strength contest took place from Nov. 25, 2022, to Dec. 4, 2022, in Skierniewice, Poland.
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Amidst her championship performance, Ellis scored a latest European and British Record within the 76-kilogram class on the deadlift — successfully pulling 240.5 kilograms (530.2 kilos) for those top marks. Ellis accomplished her deadlift from a sumo stance while using a mixed grip and wore only a lifting belt.
Along with her latest deadlift records, Ellis matched her all-time raw competition best bench press of 122.5 kilograms (270 kilos). She scored her latest all-time raw competition best total of 528 kilograms (1,164 kilos), surpassing her previous better of 527.5 kilograms (1,162.9 kilos) by half a kilogram (1.1 kilos). Each past bench press and total figures occurred on the 2022 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) Arnold Sports Festival.
Here’s an outline of the highest stats from Ellis’s complete performance on the 2022 EPF European Classic Championships:
2022 EPF European Classic Championships Results | Sophia Ellis (76KG)
- Squat — 165 kilograms (363.8 kilos)
- Bench Press — 122.5 kilograms (270 kilos) | Equals All-Time Raw Competition Best
- Deadlift — 240.5 kilograms (530.2 kilos) | European and British Record
- Total — 528 kilograms (1,164 kilos) | All-Time Raw Competition PR
Prior to her victory on the 2022 EPF European Championships, the highlight of Ellis’s powerlifting profession was arguably her 76-kilogram division win on the 2022 British Powerlifting (BP) British Classic Women’s Championships.
Ellis also boasts a top-four finish within the 76-kilogram class on the 2021 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships.
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In a post on her Instagram after the European competition, Ellis beamed with pride and reflected on what the win may need meant to her late father.
“This still feels so surreal, but I won … European Champion 2022!” Ellis wrote. “It means absolutely the world to me to have won this championship and stand on top of that platform … I do know Dad is looking down, celebrating with me.”
Featured image: @sophiastrength on Instagram