On Sunday (18 June) on the World Classic Powerlifting Championships, Singaporean teenager Matthew Yap broke the world record within the junior 66kg squat on the World Classic Powerlifting Championships.
The 17-year-old lifted 208 kilograms in his final attempt on the World Classic Weightlifting Championships in Minsk, Belarus.
During his first attempt, the 18-year-old suffered a slight cramp, forcing him to desert his second try to recuperate, and through his final attempt in Minsk, Belarus, he weighed 208kg.
Yap, who risked missing out on a medal if his final attempt didn’t go well, said: “When I put the bar down, I prayed as hard as I could that I would not get a cramp in any respect.”
“After I hit the bar (and broke the world record), I felt such relief and was so emotional. I remember just bursting into tears and being so grateful.”
“I thought of all of the obstacles we needed to face and overcome. At that moment, nothing could break me,” he said Strait Times.
The previous world record of 207.5 kg was held by Swede Eddie Berglund and was set in Texas last yr.
Another Singaporean, Kenji Loy, finished ninth with a complete rating of 375kg within the under-59kg category.
The result adds the gold medal to the bronze (130 kg) within the bench press and silver (550.5 kg) in the general standings of the competition, which ends on June 25.
Speaking to News ChannelAsiaThe 17-year-old paid tribute to his coach and brother Marcus Yap – a two-time world record holder in the game – for encouraging him to take up the game.
“I began powerlifting due to my older brother. He was competing for the primary time and once I saw that, I said to myself, in the future I would like to be on that platform.”
