The French star put on a show in a comeback.
After injuring her lower back (date and severity undisclosed), it wasn’t clear when Prescillia Bavoil would regain the form that once helped her win International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) championships in 2021. The athlete’s timeline is now very clear.
On Mar. 25, 2023, during the 2023 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships, Bavoil captured the IPF raw World Record back squat of 211 kilograms (465.1 pounds) in the 69-kilogram division. She wore a lifting belt and knee sleeves to assist with the strength feat. By the contest’s end, Bavoil’s overall performance led her to capture the total IPF raw World Record total of 548.5 kilograms (1,209.2 pounds) in her weight class. According to an Instagram post where Bavoil features her squat, she had a body weight of 66 kilograms (145.5 pounds) for the competition.
Bavoil’s current IPF World Record squat surpasses her own previous raw record mark of 205.5 kilograms (453 pounds) by 5.5 kilograms (12.1 pounds). Per the IPF database, the athlete accomplished that milestone at the 2021 European Championships.
In addition to her IPF World Record squat and total, Bavoil also tied her all-time raw competition best bench press of 115 kilograms (253.5 pounds).
Here are the athlete’s top stats from the contest:
Prescillia Bavoil (69KG) | 2023 Sheffield Powerlifting Championships Top Stats
- Squat — 211 kilograms (465.1 pounds) | IPF Raw World Record
- Bench Press — 115 kilograms (253.5 pounds) | All-Time Raw Competition Best
- Deadlift — 222.5 kilograms (490.5 pounds)
- Total — 548.5 kilograms (1,209.2 pounds) | IPF Raw World Record
According to Open Powerlifting, Bavoil’s all-time raw competition best squat remains a 212.9-kilogram (469.5-pound) lift from the 2022 Arnold Sports Festival UK.
In addition to her most recent record-setting performance, Bavoil also holds domain in the 63-kilogram (138-pound) division. She holds the IPF World Record raw squat of 213 kilograms (469.5 pounds), World Record raw deadlift with 231 kilograms (509.2 pounds), and World Record raw total of 556 kilograms (1,226.8 pounds) — all achieved at the 2022 Arnold Sports Festival UK.
In a post on her Instagram, Bavoil was emotional over her comeback and all the injury-related adversity she endured. They were the appropriate words of a true superstar finding a way to battle back.
“After weeks of rehab, I stepped on the platform with only three weeks of training, doubting about my capacities to perform and if my back will be able to handle such a stress without breaking down,” Bavoil started “… Failing heavy squats in training, barely deadlifting, I became a bench specialist. I thought about not showing up [at the Sheffield Championships) and pulling out but that’s not me. Despite all the fears, I [showed] up and gave all my best on the platform.”
Featured image: @lya_powerlift on Instagram
