Abi Graham secures medal success at IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships

And Camille Holland also seals podium place

Abi Graham is laden with medals after an IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships to remember in Canada.

And fellow Cambridge-based powerlifter Camille Holland also had a memorable competition in Calgary.

Graham, 39, a Cambridge scientist, was taking part in the Masters 1 category – for people aged 39 to 49 – in the 63kg class.

Despite lifting 5kg below her personal best with 135kg, Graham earned a bronze medal in the squat.

She equalled her personal best of 90kg in the benchpress to win gold.

Graham was most delighted with her performance in the deadlift though, as her clearance of 185kg was a personal best and European and British Masters 1 63kg-class record.

And the combined weights gave her a total of 410kg, which won the silver medal and was a European and British Masters 1 63kg-class record.

“My 185kg deadlift – just over 29st – was quite a highlight for me as it’s been an ambition for me for a long time to deadlift over three times my bodyweight, and this time I finally did it; since I weighed in at 61.5kg bodyweight,” said Graham.

“This was an unexpected outcome from this competition and very encouraging, as it seems that there is still more left in the tank on my deadlift; it moved very fast.

“Also, I attempted 185kg in the Euros in the spring, but only got it a couple of inches off the ground – so it’s really pleasing that I pulled this weight with, relative, ease this time.

“Although my overall total of 410kg was not a PB, it did equal my total PB, and given the challenge of this particular competition and the poor squat performance, I’m actually pretty pleased with that.”

Holland was competing in the open age category in the over-84kg section, and earned a bronze medal in the squat.

The Cambridge-based competitor lifted 232.5kg in the discipline to take third spot, and it was a personal best and European record.

Holland finished sixth overall with a total of 542.5kg, with the USA’s Bonica Brown winning the gold medal with a world record lift of 671.5kg.