Bonica Brown

Powerlifting career

Powerlifting championships

2002–2008: Junior and Sub-Junior division Brown began lifting weights on November 25, 2002, at the age of 14. 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.

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.

2013–present: Open division Brown had stopped competing in powerlifting in 2008, but returned in 2013. She was coached by Kimberly Walford at USA Powerlifting Equipped Nationals, where she won the competition.

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.

In 2023, Brown competed at the inaugural SBD Sheffield Powerlifting Championships after winning the 2022 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships. 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. 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.

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.

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.

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) Total – 680 kg – IPF Classic Open World Record – March 25, 2023 (+84 kg)