Petterson-Griffith to challenge for top spot at World Open Powerlifting

Carlos ‘The Showstopper’ Petterson-Griffth will compete against lifters from 32 other countries on Thursday.

He will make a strong claim to win the 93kg division at the ongoing World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships in Druskininkai, Lithuania.

Ending the 2023 edition with bronze and silver medals in the squat and deadlift, Petterson-Griffith will push even harder this year despite the challenges faced in getting to the competition.

He will arrive in Lithuania about seven hours before the weigh-in because his Schengen visa was only received on Tuesday afternoon; he commenced his journey on Tuesday night.

A similar challenge was experienced last year, but it did not deter the Guyanese strongman, who said that he is very focused on making himself and Guyana proud once again.

“I am becoming used to these challenges and mentally and spiritually prepared for the task at hand. I want to thank all my sponsors, including the Ministry of Sport and the Guyana Olympic Association, for making this trip possible. I want to say to all of Guyana, rest assured you will welcome the World Champion home.”

Petterson-Griffith turned in a magical performance at Sheffield24 earlier this year in England while also breaking the world squat record (332.5kg), eventually taken back by the USA’s Gavin Aiden with a squat of 337.0kg.

While Aiden did not cut Worlds this year, Petterson-Griffith is ranked third based on nominations behind USA’s Brandon Pitre and Gustav Hedlund of Sweden, winner of Sheffield’s Powerlifting Championship.

A mouthwatering showdown of the world’s best strongmen in the always fiercely contested 93kg class is anticipated today against competitors from the USA, Sweden, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Canada, Norway, Italy, Netherlands, Brazil, Cameroon, Ireland, Malaysia, Algeria, Iceland, Netherlands, Japan, Singapore, Cyprus, China, Jamaica, Belgium, Slovenia, Latvia, New Zealand, South Africa, Quatar, Singapore, and the US Virgin Islands.

Guyana copped a bronze medal through Dominic Tyrell, who made an encouraging senior debut on Tuesday in the 83kg division.

Tyrell, the youngest competitor in that division, also ended up 6th in the world out of 25 athletes.