In Tartu, Estonia, on December 4, Kjell Egil Bakkelund took center stage at the 2023 EPF European Open Classic Powerlifting Championships. The competition spans from December 4-9. Remarkably, only one day had passed, but history was already in the making.
Norwegian lifter Kjell Egil Bakkelund stole the spotlight in the 74-kilogram weight class. Not only did he secure the European Championship, but he also shattered two International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Records.
His outstanding performance began with strong lifts in the initial events. Then came the electrifying deadlift display. Bakkelund’s first and second attempts, weighing 310 kilograms (683.4 pounds) and 322.5 kilograms (711 pounds), showcased his strength.
The real showstopper was his final deadlift attempt. Loaded with an incredible 330 kilograms (727.5 pounds), Bakkelund approached the bar with sheer determination. Wearing only a lifting belt, he faced a momentary challenge initiating the lift. Once the bar ascended, he smoothly reached the lockout position, securing his place in history.
Notably, Carl Johansson held the previous U74KG IPF World Record of 328 kilograms (723.1 pounds). He set this record just six months earlier at the 2023 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships. Unfortunately for Johansson, Bakkelund has now broken it, marking a spectacular start to the championship and leaving an indelible mark on powerlifting history.
View the entire lifting performance here:
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Kjell Egil Bakkelund’s Full Performance at 2023 European Championships
To kick off, Kjell Egil Bakkelund flawlessly executed all nine attempts throughout the entire competition. Consequently, this impeccable showing culminated in a Total IPF World Record.
Furthermore, as an outstanding achievement in itself, Kjell outshone the competition by an extraordinary margin. Surpassing the second-place finisher at the 2023 EPF European Championships, he achieved this feat by an impressive 97.5 kilograms (215 pounds) overall.
| Exercise | Weight |
|---|---|
| Squat | 245 kg (540.1 lbs) |
| 255 kg (562.2 lbs) | |
| 262.5 kg (578.7 lbs) — Competition PR | |
| Bench Press | 192.5 kg (424.4 lbs) |
| 202.5 kg (446.4 lbs) | |
| 207.5 kg (457.5 lbs) — Competition PR | |
| Deadlift | 310 kg (683.4 lbs) |
| 322.5 kg (711 lbs) | |
| 330 kg (727.5 lbs) — U74KG IPF World Record | |
| Total | 800 kg (1,763.7 lbs) — U74KG IPF World Record |
The previous U74KG IPF Total World Record was held by Taylor Atwood at 790.5 kg (1,742.8 lbs) from the 2019 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships.
Squat
To begin, in this impressive display of strength, the lifter progressed through the squat with escalating weights. Following that, at 245 kilograms (540.1 pounds), then 255 kilograms (562.2 pounds), and a remarkable 262.5 kilograms (578.7 pounds), setting a new Competition Personal Record.
Bench Press
Transitioning to the bench press, the lifter’s prowess continued to shine. Initially, at 192.5 kilograms (424.4 pounds), then 202.5 kilograms (446.4 pounds), culminating in a competition peak at 207.5 kilograms (457.5 pounds) and yet another Personal Record.
Deadlift
Moving on to the deadlift, the lifter showcased dominance with each lift. Commencing at 310 kilograms (683.4 pounds), progressing to 322.5 kilograms (711 pounds), and finally, an astonishing 330 kilograms (727.5 pounds), securing a new U74KG IPF World Record.
Total — U74KG IPF World Record
Moreover, in the grand total, these Herculean efforts amounted to 800 kilograms (1,763.7 pounds), surpassing the previous record of 790.5 kilograms (1,742.8 pounds) held by Taylor Atwood from the 2019 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships. Additionally, this marks a new era of dominance in the U74KG category.
View the entire lifting performance here:
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Kjell Egil Bakkelund’s Competition History
Personal Bests
| Equip | Squat (lb) | Bench (lb) | Deadlift (lb) | Total (lb) | Dots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-ply | 788.2 | 575.4 | 788.2 | 2077.9 | 651.69 |
| Raw | 573.2 | 429.9 | 573.2 | 1704.2 | 552.91 |
Competition Results
| Place | Fed | Date | Competition | Division | Total (kg) | Dots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NSF | 2023-06-17 | KK-67 NM styrkeløft utstyr | Open | 1840.9 | 581.42 |
| 4 | IPF | 2023-06-11 | World Classic Powerlifting Championships | Open | 1675.5 | 552.91 |
| 1 | EPF | 2023-05-02 | European Equipped Powerlifting Championships | Open | 2000.7 | 626.23 |
| 1 | NSF | 2023-03-03 | Bjørgvin SK NM styrkeløft utstyrsfritt | Open | 1697.6 | 531.97 |
| 5 | EPF | 2022-11-25 | European Classic Powerlifting Championships | Open | 1526.7 | 503.48 |
| 1 | IPF | 2022-11-14 | World Open Equipped Powerlifting Championships | Open | 1918 | 631.97 |
| 5 | EPF | 2022-08-02 | European Bench Press Championships | Open | 374.8 | 123.35 |
| 4 | EPF | 2022-08-02 | European Bench Press Championships | Open | 496 | 160 |
| 1 | IPF | 2022-07-08 | World Games | Middle | 1896 | 626.78 |
| 1 | EPF | 2022-05-03 | European Powerlifting Championships | Open | 1929 | 637.02 |
| 1 | NSF | 2022-03-25 | NM Styrkeløft utstyrsfritt | Open | 1605 | 528.17 |
| 1 | NSF | 2021-12-11 | Klubbstevne | Open | 1614.9 | 515.65 |
| 1 | IPF | 2021-11-08 | World Powerlifting Championships | Open | 1890.5 | 623.28 |
| 1 | NSF | 2021-06-26 | NM styrkeløft utstyr | Open | 1873.9 | 581.87 |
| 1 | IPF | 2019-11-18 | World Powerlifting Championships | Open | 1951.1 | 645 |
| 1 | NSF | 2019-06-27 | NM styrkeløft utstyrsfritt | Open | 1559.8 | 513.93 |
| 2 | IPF | 2019-06-04 | World Classic Powerlifting Championships | Open | 1614.9 | 531.71 |
| 1 | EPF | 2019-05-04 | European Equipped Powerlifting Championships | Open | 1984.2 | 651.69 |
| 1 | NSF | 2019-03-23 | NM benkpress utstyr | Open | 524.7 | 172.38 |
| 1 | EPF | 2018-11-24 | European Classic Powerlifting Championships | Open | 1576.3 | 523.94 |
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: August 17, 2023.
Kjell Egil Bakkelund’s Powerlifting Journey
Throughout his 15+ years of competitive powerlifting, Kjell Egil Bakkelund has actively participated in over 65 sanctioned contests. Furthermore, his dedication spans across both raw and equipped championships, earning him numerous titles in each division. However, it was his recent outstanding performance at the EPF European Championships that truly stood out. In this competition, he not only surpassed his competition PRs but also secured two World Records.
Notably, the only missing pieces in Kjell’s impressive collection of achievements are the squat and bench press IPF World Records. Despite this, he has come close to claiming these records and might set his sights on pursuing them in future competitions.
Overview
At the 2023 EPF European Open Classic Powerlifting Championships in Tartu, Estonia, on December 4, Kjell Egil Bakkelund dominated the 74kg weight class. Notably, he clinched the European Championship, shattered two IPF World Records in deadlift (330kg), and set a new U74KG IPF Total World Record at 800kg. Moreover, watch the historic lifts here. In addition, in his 15+ years of competitive powerlifting, Bakkelund has participated in over 65 contests, showcasing excellence in both raw and equipped divisions.
Featured Image @the_epf_ (Instagram)
