These buff dudes have got the power—to lift double their body weight and then some. The 2019 World Open Powerlifting Championships in Dubai are upon us, streaming for free from Nov. 18 to Nov. 23 on the Olympic Channel website and the Olympic Channel mobile app. During the six-day competition, competitors will face off in a series of three disciplines: squat, bench press, and deadlift.
The total weight of each athlete’s best lift in each of the three disciplines determines the overall winner in each weight class. This total relative to each lifter’s weight class determines overall titleholders in each gender category. Approximately 249 athletes are slated to participate in the event, with 155 men and 94 women entered. The competition is fierce, with iconic powerlifters from across the globe convening on Dubai.
That’s right, strength sport fans—you’ll want to see this. Here’s what you need to know before tuning in.
Competitors to Watch at the 2019 World Open Powerlifting Championships
The Olympic Channel names U.S. powerlifter Blaine Sumner, an IPF World Champion in the over 120kg category and holder of the most World Open records in powerlifting, as a competitor to watch during the championships. His fiercest competition in the 120kg class is Russian lifter Andrey Konovalov, who won the championship title last year in Sweden. Fellow Russian lifter Sergey Fedosienko, who holds 13 World Open titles in the under 59kg category, is also named as a lifter to watch. The trio were the three top lifters overall in last year’s Open, with Konovalov coming out on top followed by Fedosienko and Sumner.
Lifter Jaroslaw Olech of Poland is also one to watch for a record-breaking moment. Olech, who co-holds the record for the most World Open Powerlifting titles with retired Japanese lifter Hideaki Inaba, could break the existing record by clinching an eighteenth title at this year’s championship.
In the women’s category, nine-time World Open Powerlifting Champion in the under 52kg category Natalia Salnikova of Russia and eight-time World Open titleholder in the under 63kg class Larysa Soloviova of Ukraine are named as athletes to watch by the Olympic Channel. Japanese lifter Fukushima Yukako, who holds five World Open titles in the 47kg category, is also a strong competitor overall. Indonesia’s Sri Hartati, a lifter in the 57kg class and holder of six World Open titles, is also one to watch, given her record breaking performance last year. Soloviova came out on top overall at last year’s women championships, followed by Yukako and Hartati.
U.S. powerlifter Bonica Brown was named one to watch in the 84+kg class, with five world records in the classic division. In the 2018 championships, Brown broke the previous total record of 783kg by lifting an additional 20kg. FYI, she held that previous record herself.
When to Watch the 2019 World Open Powerlifting Championships
Though the schedule is subject to change, here is when you can catch the lifting champs at work.
Monday, November 18
Tuesday, November 19
Wednesday, November 20
Thursday, November 21
Friday, November 22
Saturday, November 23
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