A little over a week ago, I competed in the WDFPF World Drug-Free Single Lift Championships in Aalsmeer, Netherlands, on 1-2 June 2024.

It is now a little over two years since I had a total knee replacement of my left knee, and then six months later also a hip replacement of my right hip (see here). After the surgery and a month or so of rehab work with a physio, I started doing some powerlifting training building up very gradually over 18 months to a national competition in September 2023 (see here). At that competition, I qualified to compete at international level in the bench press and deadlift.

I made an application to compete in the World Single Lift Championships in 2024. My son Felix Strong had competed in the 2023 World Championships in Sardinia and set a world record of 260 kg for the deadlift (see here and here). He decided not to compete this year, because his final exams were scheduled through most of May. However, at the last minute, he changed his mind and also decided to apply.

Three Swiss athletes competed at the World Championships in Aalsmer, close to Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands.  Like Felix, Gina Berther had also set a world record for the deadlift in Sardinia last year (195 kg) and was also competing in all three lifts.