Georgian powerlifter Georgi Gelashvili is relatively new to the international powerlifting scene, first appearing in 2023. However, he is already the sub-Junior (ages 14-19) powerlifting world champion, having won gold at the 2023 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) Junior World Championships (JWC) in Cluj Napoca, Romania.

Gelashvili missed first place at the 2023 European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Junior Championships (EJC) in Budapest, Hungary, by only three kilograms.

Gelashvili competed on Aug. 7, 2024, at the 2024 EPF European Bench Press Championships (EBC) in Istanbul, Turkey, where he made his first impression on the IPF record books. On his second attempt, he bench pressed 120.5 kilograms, breaking the sub-Junior bench-only world record. Check out the lift below, courtesy of the IPF’s Instagram page:

Lifting without the support of a lifting belt, or even wrist wraps, Gelashvili took the barbell in the maximum width grip permitted in IPF competition, with the forefingers covering the rings. He unracked the bar himself without assistance from the platform crew. On receiving the start command from the chief referee, Gelashvili lowered the bar to his chest, sinking slightly, presumably to be sure of reaching elbow depth.

“Elbow depth” refers to a controversial rule brought in by the IPF at the start of 2023 in order to combat extreme arching. The rule states:

“After receiving the signal, the lifter must lower the bar to the chest or abdominal area whereby the underside of both elbow joints is lowered level with or below the top surface of each respective shoulder joint.”

When the press command came, Gelashvili locked it out with much apparent effort. He subsequently attempted 125 kilograms, but it was too heavy. This performance secured Gelashvili the gold, nearly 30 kilograms ahead of his nearest rival.

2024 EPF European Classic Bench Press Championships Results — Georgi Gelashvili, 53KG, Sub-Junior

Bench Press

110 kilograms

120.5 kilograms — IPF Sub-junior World Record

125 kilograms

Georgian Powerlifting

The Georgian powerlifting team had great success with the bench press in 2024. Temur Samkharadze broke the Junior bench press world record in the 120+KG class twice — once at the 2024 Classic World Championships in Lithuania and again at the 2024 Euro-Muscle Show (EMS) in Amsterdam, setting it at 256 kilograms.

Jaba Sepiashvili got in on the action at the EMS, breaking the Junior world record in the 53KG class with 150 kilograms. He then moved to the 59KG class at the EBC to break the European Junior record with 157 kilograms. Additionally, Levani Giligashvili broke the European Masters 1 (ages 40-49) record in the 74KG class at the 2024 EBC with 180 kilograms. Whatever the Georgian bench press coaches are doing, it’s working.

Gelashvili will be back on the platform almost immediately. He is on the roster for the 2024 IPF WJC, which is to be held in Malta from Aug. 28 through Sept. 8, 2024.

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Featured image: @theipf on Instagram

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