On June 29, 2024, the European Championship powerlifting qualifiers were held in Maribor, Slovenia, bringing together the best athletes from all Balkan countries.

This was an opportunity to witness world-class athletes and see who would represent their countries at the upcoming European Championships in Germany.

Among them was the founder and trainer of our Academy – Bartłomiej Orchowski.

Powerlifting consists of four categories: Muscle up, Pull up, Weighted Squat, and Dip. This discipline requires not only tremendous strength but also endurance, technique, focus, and strategic planning skills.

Powerlifting competitions are also divided into weight categories. Bartłomiej competed in the -80kg category, which is the most contested. From the very start, the atmosphere in this category was tense. The first category was Muscle Up. Bartłomiej completed a Muscle Up with 37.5 kg in the first attempt, then 42.5 kg in the second, and 46 kg in the third. The final third attempt of 46 kg set a new world record.

The next category was Pull Up. Orchowski began with 90 kg in the first attempt, then 95 kg, and finally 101 kg in the last attempt, setting a new world record in the Pull Up category for the -80 kg weight class. All three attempts were successful, also known as REP.

The next round was Dips (push-ups on parallel bars). Bartłomiej started this category with 140 kg, which he completed successfully. He then moved on to 150 kg, which was also accepted by the judges. In the last third attempt, he chose a weight of 156 kg, but the judges decided not to approve the lift.

The final category was squats. In cooperation with his trainer, Orchowski chose a weight of 210 kg, which he completed successfully. He then increased to 215 kg, also completing the attempt. The last chosen weight was 217.5 kg, but unfortunately, this attempt was not approved by the judges, also known as NO REP.

After all the competitions concluded, the judging committee calculated and announced the results. Bartłomiej achieved a total of 512 kg, which secured him first place in the -80 kg weight category and a spot in the European Championships. Among the competitors was also a Mexican citizen – Elder Paredes – a 22-year-old athlete who proved to be exceptionally strong in squats.

Throughout Europe, qualifying competitions for the European Championships were held, including the one in Maribor. Only the top 10 athletes from all these competitions qualified for the European Championships. Bartłomiej not only qualified for the Championships but also achieved the highest score among all competitors in all the qualifying events, finishing the qualifiers in first place.

November 3, 2024, in Leipzig, promises to be an exciting fight for the title of the best in Europe.