National athlete Carlos Petterson-Griffith is set to take on one of his biggest challenges yet as he competes against eleven of the world’s top athletes in the prestigious Sheffield Powerlifting Championships in England.
The Sheffield Powerlifting Championships, now in its second edition, will feature twelve male and twelve female athletes vying for world records in front of a sell-out crowd at Sheffield City Hall.
Among the competitors are seven former world powerlifting champions, six of whom have multiple championship titles.
Petterson-Griffith, who previously secured a silver medal at the IPF competition, aims to showcase himself as a world-class athlete and represent the competitive spirit of Guyana on the international stage.
In an interview, Petterson-Griffith expressed his honor to participate in the event and emphasized his intention to inspire other local athletes to elevate their performance levels.
The competition will see formidable opponents in the male category, including two-time world champions Jonathan Cayco and Delaney Wallace, as well as three-time world champion Jesus Olivares from the USA.
Notable competitors also include reigning world champion Carl Johansson from Sweden, Tony Cliffe from the United Kingdom, and Panagiotis Tarinidis of France, all multiple-time world champions.
The winner of this year’s championship will receive a substantial prize, with USD $31,000 for first place, $15,000 for second, and $9,000 for third.
Additionally, a $5,000 prize will be awarded for any international powerlifting record broken in the squat, bench press, deadlift, or total.
The event is sponsored by SDB Apparel and the International Powerlifting Federation, with Petterson-Griffith receiving sponsorship support from SBD Apparel, Fitness Express, Digicel, Superior Concrete Inc, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports.
Petterson-Griffith’s participation underscores his commitment to excellence and his determination to compete at the highest level, representing Guyana with pride on the global stage.