ETU “LETI: Squat, Press, Lift, Repeat: LETI Held Annual Student Powerlifting Competition
On March 6-8, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI” hosted the annual powerlifting competitions among the students of Saint Petersburg universities, organized by the university, the Saint Petersburg Committee for Physical Education and Sports, the Saint Petersburg Center for the Training of Sports Teams and the Saint Petersburg Powerlifting Federation.
More than 130 strongest athletes from 20 city universities competed for the medals, among them: ETU “LETI,” ITMO University, St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University, Mining University, Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health, Baltic State Technical University, Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, and others.
“This year’s competition is different from the previous ones. First of all, it featured masks and gloves and did not feature athletes who had to stop training during the pandemic. Nevertheless, the competition took place.”
Andrey Vendik, Head Referee of the competition, coach of the ETU “LETI” powerlifting team
The event began with women’s competitions in seven weight classes. The winners were Ulyana Voytovich (Kirov St. Petersburg State Forest Engineering University), Alena Sokolova (Mining University), Darya Nekhtsa (Mechnikov Northern State Medical University), Yulia Khodneva (ETU “LETI”), Katerina Malkova (Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health), Maria Khristenko (ETU “LETI”), Polina Danilina (Baltic State Technical University). Julia Khodneva, a master’s student of ETU “LETI,” silver medalist of the European University Cup (2020), was ahead of her rivals by 4 points in the overall standings. In the team competition, Baltic State Technical University took first place, and the women of the Mining University won silver medals. ETU “LETI” students took third place.
“This competition is one of the important stages: to defend my title of a champion of St. Petersburg universities, to test my strength, to practice my technique, to prepare for the next competition,” Maria Khristenko, a student of ETU “LETI,” commented.
The men’s competition took place in eight weight classes. Men from the Mining University won the team competition. In the individual standings, gold medals went to Maxim Borovoy (ETU “LETI”), Pavel Shipovalov (Baltic State Technical University), Bogdan Darsania (Baltic State Technical University), Kablan Kofi (Mining University), Dmitry Chernyshov (St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University), Mahmud Sari (Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University), Kirill Zaitsev (Mining University). Kofi Kablan Yves Bertrand took first place in the overall standings.
At the competition, students of St. Petersburg set more than 20 records. Yulia Khodneva broke the record, which she set last year in the weight class up to 63 kg, by 5 kg. She squatted with a bar weighing 137.5 kg.
The winners and runners-up got medals and prizes from the Brutal sports nutrition store chain.
Participants appreciated the high level of organization of the event. “The organization of the competition is at the highest level. Every year LETI gets better and better. It’s a pleasure to be here today,” Alexander Ivachev, a coach of the Baltic State Technical University team, said.