Richards enters record territory.
On Feb. 24-26, 2023, through the Powerlifting America (AMP) Classic Open Nationals, powerlifter Natalie Richards broke recent ground for her weight class. In a first-place National Championship performance, Richards notched a 501.2-kilogram (1,105-pound) raw total and became the first-ever 57-kilogram powerlifter in AMP to interrupt the 500-kilogram barrier.
As a part of her historical total, Richards recorded an all-time raw competition-best deadlift of 221.3 kilograms (488 kilos). Richards accomplished the pull from a sumo stance with a mixed grip. The athlete wore only a lifting belt for the deadlift, a belt and knee sleeves for her top squat, and wrist wraps for her bench press. The angle of a clip featuring Richards’ lifts makes it unclear whether the competitor was also wearing a belt on her press.
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The one major powerlifting organization with a 57-kilogram category is the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). In keeping with its database, the IPF’s current raw all-time World Record total within the 57-kilogram division is 495.5 kilograms (1,092.4 kilos). That mark is held by France’s Jade Jacob, who captured it on the 2022 European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Classic Powerlifting Championships.
While Richards’ recent total doesn’t officially surpass Jade’s on an IPF level — because her achievement didn’t occur under its jurisdiction — she stays the first-ever 57-kilogram powerlifter to realize a minimum of 500 kilograms on a sanctioned lifting platform.
Marianna Gasparyan totaled 552.5 kilograms at 56 kilograms on the World Raw Powerlifting Federation’s The Showdown in 2020.
Here’s an outline of Richards’ all-time raw competition bests:
Natalie Richards (57KG) | All-Time Raw Competition Bests
- Squat — 178.5 kilograms (393.5 kilos)
- Bench Press — 107.5 kilograms (237 kilos)
- Deadlift — 221.5 kilograms (488.3 kilos)
- Total — 501.2 kilograms (1,105 kilos)
In keeping with Open Powerlifting, Richards’ victory on the 2023 AMP Classic Open Nationals extends her current winning streak to a few consecutive contests. Between occasionally simultaneous Junior and Open competitions, the athlete has only ever didn’t finish in first place on two instances in 12 profession competitive appearances.
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Per the post’s caption featuring Richards’ 2023 AMP Nationals performance, the athlete will shift her training focus to preparing for the 2023 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships. The competition scheduled for Jun. 11-18, 2023, in Valletta, Malta, will function Richards’ IPF debut. Provided the athlete can transfer her strength to the tentpole contest, she’s going to have a firm place within the IPF World Record books this summer.
Featured image: @kingofthelifts on Instagram