Sleeves record smashed

Colton Engelbrecht, a 26-year-old powerlifter from South Africa, has redefined the boundaries of raw strength by setting the all-time heaviest total in a sleeves-only powerlifting meet. Competing in a format that restricts supportive gear to just knee sleeves, Engelbrecht’s performance emphasized pure physical power over the assistance provided by wraps or suits often used in equipped lifting. His record-breaking total, achieved on November 12, 2023, at a sanctioned event in Johannesburg, tallied an astonishing 1,155 kilograms (2,546 pounds) across the squat, bench press, and deadlift (youtube.com). The sleeves-only category, a subset of raw powerlifting, has gained traction in recent years as athletes and federations seek to highlight unassisted strength. Unlike equipped meets where lifters can wear specialized suits that aid in lifting heavier weights, sleeves meets impose strict limits, allowing only minimal gear like knee sleeves for joint protection. Engelbrecht’s record surpasses the previous sleeves total by 45 kilograms (99 pounds), a significant margin in a sport where progress is often measured in single-digit increments (powerliftingwatch.com). Engelbrecht’s journey to this historic moment began nearly a decade ago when he started training in a small gym in Cape Town. Known for his disciplined approach, he has competed in both equipped and raw formats but chose to focus on sleeves-only meets to test his limits without reliance on gear. His viral lift sequence, which shows him squatting 450 kilograms (992 pounds), benching 260 kilograms (573 pounds), and deadlifting 445 kilograms (981 pounds), has amassed over 2 million views online, inspiring a new wave of interest in raw powerlifting (youtube.com). The International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), which oversees many global competitions, issued a statement congratulating Engelbrecht on his achievement while noting that his record falls under a specific raw subcategory not yet universally adopted in all IPF-affiliated events. Some regional federations have already begun discussions to expand sleeves-only divisions, citing growing athlete demand for gear-minimal competitions. Engelbrecht’s performance is expected to accelerate this trend, potentially reshaping competitive standards in the sport (ipf.com). Beyond the numbers, Engelbrecht’s record has sparked debate within the powerlifting community about the balance between raw and equipped lifting. Purists argue that sleeves-only meets represent the truest test of strength, while others maintain that equipped lifting allows for greater totals and remains a valid expression of the sport. Online forums and social media are abuzz with opinions, but most agree that Engelbrecht’s feat has brought much-needed attention to the raw side of powerlifting (reddit.com). Looking ahead, Engelbrecht has announced plans to defend his record at an international sleeves-only meet scheduled for mid-2024 in Europe, where he aims to push his total even higher. Organizers anticipate record attendance, fueled by the viral momentum of his recent lift. Meanwhile, training footage shared on his social media suggests he is already experimenting with techniques to add another 20-30 kilograms to his total, keeping the powerlifting world on edge for what’s next (instagram.com).