Powerlifting World Applauds Nathaniel Massiah for Unthinkable World Record Attempt
British powerlifting prodigy Nathaniel Massiah might have missed out on setting back-to-back deadlift world records, but he can walk away from this year’s World Championships with his head held high.
The 22-year-old ripped a record-setting 360.5kg to win his first world title in the classic Junior 93kg class in Malta last year.
In his third and final IPF Junior World Championships, held in San Jose, Costa Rica, Massiah attempted to conquer a second weight category by moving up 12kg to compete in the 105kg division.
Very much the underdog, the YoungLA and Myprotein athlete found himself trailing Danish competitor Regin Stergakis as they entered the final deadlifts.
Stergakis, who had topped the podium at 105kg the year prior, pulled 370kg in his final lift — setting the Junior deadlift world record and Junior total world record in the process.
With 922.5kg to beat, Massiah faced a crossroads: shoot for just the deadlift world record and settle for second place, or double down and aim for top spot.
He defiantly chose the latter. Caked in chalk and brimming with determination, Massiah whipped up the crowd, shut his eyes, grit his teeth, and attempted to hoist 388kg with a mixed grip — a whopping 18kg more than the world record.
Unfortunately, what would have been one of powerlifting’s most iconic moments didn’t come to fruition. The bar stuck, and Massiah briefly sank to his knees before collecting himself and showing his appreciation to the fans in attendance.
The whole arena stood up to rightly applaud what was an admirable showing of ambition and determination from the young athlete.
“I lost,” Massiah graciously wrote on Instagram.
“I could have settled for a much easier world record and resigned myself to second place, but I will fight for every single one of you who supports me and I will never give up without leaving it all on the platform.”
Massiah congratulated Stergakis and admitted the better man won on the day.
“This is nowhere near the end,” he continued. “My Open career has only just begun. But beyond anything else I’m just proud of my will to win and I hope I can inspire people to do the same.”
Though it wasn’t to be on this occasion, Nathaniel Massiah showed the spirit of a true champion to shoot for the unthinkable.
A very bright career in the sport awaits, that much is certain.
2025 IPF Junior World Championships Results — Nathaniel Massiah, 105kg | Raw
Squat
- 292.5kg
- 312.5kg
- 322.5kg
Bench
- 192.5kg
- 212.5kg
- 215kg (attempted)
Deadlift
- 337.5kg
- 360kg
- 388kg (attempted)
Total: 895kg
Placing: 2nd
SEE ALSO: “Crazy How Easy it Felt”: Thor Reacts to Smashing Deadlift World Record a Third Time
