Three Estonian athletes were competing in the open class this time: one woman, Karmen Kaljula (in the below 69 kg category), and two men, Agris Reppo and Margus Silbaum, both in the under 93 kg category.

Kaljula (pictured) withdrew from last year’s championship due to health reasons, and while she usually competes in the -76 kg category, this time she moved down a weight class. This proved to have been the right move in Pilsen. In the squat, she successfully lifted 175 kg, then 185 kg, and 195 kg; the latter two weights are new women’s domestic records as well.

This also bode well for the bench press, Kaljula’s strongest discipline, and she opened with an Estonian record attempt of 152.5 kg. While the first lift failed due to technical reasons, on her second attempt, she was not only successful but also managed to get to 157.5 kg on her third attempt, staying in the gold medal position in the individual discipline until a lighter competitor surpassed the same weight threshold.

Next for Kaljula came the deadlift, which required a strategic approach in taking competitors’ results into account. Her opening lift of 177.5 kg was successful, as was her second attempt, 10 kg heavier at 187.5 kg. A successful third attempt, at 202.5 kg, would have earned her a bronze medal in the individual discipline and fourth place overall, but unfortunately the bar slipped from her hands. With a total of 540 kg, she finished in sixth place in the individual deadlift.

Read more: ERR.EE