The most competitive division of the 2023 IPF World Juniors and Sub-Juniors Classic Championships was without a doubt the raw 120-kilogram weight class, as the battle for supremacy reached all-time highs. However, following a last-minute turnaround, Etienne El Chaer managed to claim the gold medal. To do so, he had to set new Deadlift and Total IPF Junior World Records, which proves how difficult it was for him to become the World Champion.
Etienne El Chaer was in second place going into the final event of the competition. Moreover, the situation did not look good for him at all, since he missed his opener deadlift of 350 kilograms (771.6 pounds). However, Etienne remained composed and still decided to break the record on his second attempt. So, he confidently walked out on the platform and successfully locked out a 368.5-kilogram (812.4-pound) deadlift.
He soon found out that it wouldn’t be enough for him to win gold, so he had to further improve the U120KG IPF Junior World Record. Consequently, he loaded a 378.5-kilogram (834.5-pound) deadlift and put on his lifting belt while getting ready for the huge task in front of him. Etienne El Chaer then came to the platform, positioned his conventional stance, grabbed the bar with a mixed grip, and started pulling. Once the weight started moving upward, Etienne did not let it slow down until lockout. Finally, after waiting a few seconds for confirmation that the lift was good, Etienne burst into celebration.
Anders Broeten Lillemoe was the previous U120KG IPF Deadlift Junior World Record holder, having locked out a pull of 363.5 kilograms (801.4 pounds) at the 2022 IPF World Junior Classic Powerlifting Championships.
Watch the deadlift here:
Etienne El Chaer’s Full Performance
Etienne El Chaer only missed two of his attempts during his entire performance, those being one squat and one deadlift. However, these misses almost cost him the title, since Jonah Wiendieck was having a stellar performance as well. In addition, since Jonah was on track to break the IPF Total Junior World Record, Etienne had to one-up him, and break it by a bigger margin.
In the end, Etienne El Chaer’s final deadlift raised his Total to 926 kilograms (2,041.5), which was 0.5 kilograms (1.1 pounds) heavier than what Jonah put up. So, Etienne walked away with both the U120KG IPF Total Junior World Record and the gold medal.
Squat
- 315 kilograms (694.5 pounds)
- 330 kilograms (727.5 pounds)
- Unsuccessful — 340 kilograms (749.6 pounds)
Bench Press
- 200 kilograms (440.9 pounds)
- 210 kilograms (463 pounds)
- 217.5 kilograms (479.5 pounds)
Deadlift
- Unsuccessful — 350 kilograms (771.6 pounds)
- 368.5 kilograms (812.4 pounds)
- 378.5 kilograms (834.5 pounds) — U120KG IPF Junior World Record
Total — 926 kilograms (2,041.5 pounds) — U120KG IPF Junior World Record
*Cenk Koçak, who lifted 892.5 kilograms (1,967.6 pounds) at the 2019 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships, previously held the U120KG IPF Total Junior World Record.
Watch all lifts here:
Etienne El Chaer’s Competition History
Personal Bests
| Equip | Squat | Bench | Deadlift | Total | Dots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw | 727.5 | 445.3 | 727.5 | 1955.5 | 510.84 |
Competition Results
| Place | Fed | Date | Competition | Division | Total | Dots | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IPF | 2023-07-18 | Arab Cup | Juniors | 1955.5 | 510.84 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This was Etienne El Chaer’s third sanctioned powerlifting competition and his third victory as well. His other two victories are also quite impressive, as he won the 2022 AsianPF Asian Classic Powerlifting Championships and the 2023 IPF Arab Cup.
Etienne El Chaer now adds two IPF Junior World Records to his list of achievements, as he prepares to compete in the Open age class next year. He has not only made himself happy, but also the entire country of Lebanon, alongside Joya Khairallah, who also set two IPF Junior World Records a few days ago.
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