Bonica Brown (née Lough; born August 4, 1988) is an American powerlifter competing in the IPF. She is a World Games champion, a 4-time Equipped World Champion, a 2-time Sub-Junior Equipped World Champion, and a 7-time Classic World Champion, and she has held multiple world records in each division.[2]
Powerlifting career
Powerlifting championships
2002–2008: Junior and Sub-Junior division
Brown began lifting weights on November 25, 2002, at the age of 14.[3] 18 months later, she competed in the IPF open and sub-junior world championships in the 90-kilogram weight class. She secured 5th place in the open competition and first place in the sub-junior competition, where she also broke several sub-junior world records.[4][5]
In 2006, Brown extended her sub-junior records in the 90-kilogram weight class at the 2006 IPF World Open Powerlifting Championships. She would secure second place in the competition.[6]
2013–present: Open division
Brown had stopped competing in powerlifting in 2008, but returned in 2013.[7] She was coached by Kimberly Walford at USA Powerlifting Equipped Nationals, where she won the competition.[1]
In 2018, Brown broke all five world records in the classic 84+ kilogram weight class in the squat, bench press full power and single lift, deadlift, and total at the 2018 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships.[8]
In 2023, Brown competed at the inaugural SBD Sheffield Powerlifting Championships after winning the 2022 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships.[9][10] At Sheffield, she secured a new squat world record of 280 kilograms and a total world record of 680 kilograms, and securing 5th at the competition.[11] She competed at the IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships the same year, squatting 289 kilograms for a world record. However, her record would be annulled after failing to register a total, and the record holder would be given to Sonita Muluh of Belgium, who squatted 285.5 kilograms at the same competition.[12]
The World Games
Brown qualified for the 2017 World Games, competing as a super heavyweight powerlifter. She would win the competition with a score of 600.71, as well as a squat world record of 310.5 kilograms and a total world record of 763 kilograms.[13]
Brown competed at the 2022 World Games as a super heavyweight powerlifter a second time and broke her squat world record. Initially, Brown had won the competition on her last deadlift attempt of 262.5 kilograms, but the jury overruled her final attempt to a no lift. She secured second place in the competition, losing gold to Rhaea Stinn of Canada.[14][15]
Personal records
Competition bests
Equipped
Squat: 325 kg (2019)
Bench Press: 202.5 kg (2019)
Deadlift: 360.5 kg (2018)
Total: 793 kg (2019)
Raw
Squat: 289 kg (2023)
Bench Press: 155 kg (2021)
Deadlift: 252.5 kg (2023)
Total: 680 kg (2023)
Record lifts in competition
Equipped
Squat – 230 kg – IPF Sub-Junior World Record – October 11, 2006 (−90 kg)
Bench Press – 125 kg – IPF Sub-Junior World Record – October 11, 2006 (−90 kg)
Deadlift – 212.5 kg – IPF Sub-Junior World Record – October 11, 2006 (−90 kg)
Total – 567.5 kg – IPF Sub-Junior World Record – October 11, 2006 (−90 kg)
Deadlift – 260.5 kg – USA Powerlifting Equipped American Record – May 18, 2018 (+84 kg)
Total – 778 kg – USA Powerlifting Equipped American Record – May 18, 2018 (+84 kg)
Squat – 325 kg – USA Powerlifting Equipped American Record – March 5, 2019 (+84 kg)
Bench Press – 220 kg – USA Powerlifting Equipped Full Power American Record – November 18, 2019 (+84 kg)
Bench Press – 220 kg – USA Powerlifting Equipped Bench Press Only American Record – November 18, 2019 (+84 kg)
Squat – 322.5 kg – IPF Equipped Open World Record – October 7, 2022 (+84 kg)
Total – 791 kg – IPF Equipped Open World Record – October 7, 2022 (+84 kg)
Raw
Squat – 242.5 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw American Record – July 20, 2014 (+90 kg)
Bench Press – 140 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw Full Power American Record – October 10, 2014 (+90 kg)
Deadlift – 227.5 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw American Record – July 20, 2014 (+90 kg)
Total – 610 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw American Record – July 20, 2014 (+90 kg)
Bench Press – 151.5 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw Full Power American Record – October 10, 2017 (+84 kg)
Bench Press – 151.5 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw Bench Press Only American Record – October 10, 2017 (+84 kg)
Bench Press – 151.5 kg – IPF Classic Open Full Power World Record – June 6, 2018 (+84 kg)
Bench Press – 151.5 kg – IPF Classic Open Bench Press Only World Record – June 6, 2018 (+84 kg)
Deadlift – 247 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw American Record – June 6, 2018 (+84 kg)
Deadlift – 247 kg – IPF Classic Open World Record – June 6, 2018 (+84 kg)
Total – 671.5 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw American Record – June 6, 2018 (+84 kg)
Squat – 276 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw American Record – January 6, 2021 (+84 kg)
Squat – 280 kg – IPF Classic Open World Record – March 25, 2023 (+84 kg)[a]
Total – 680 kg – IPF Classic Open World Record – March 25, 2023 (+84 kg)
Notes
^Originally, Brown squatted 289 kilograms for a world record at the 2023 Open Classic Powerlifting Championships, but failed to register a total which annulled her world record.
