Ielja Strik
Encyclopedia
Ielja Strik is a Dutch
powerlifter
and a former gymnast
and bodybuilder
.
suited her better as a sport, quickly changing to bodybuilding
. After a number of successes Strik started powerlifting
in 2001. Quickly it turned out she possessed quite some strength and after a month of practicing the sport she entered the Dutch championships. Strik was immediately asked to join the Dutch selection.
Strik has a personal preference for bench press
and competes in this sport next to her powerlift competitions. In 2006 she broke the world record bench press, attaining a result of 182,5 kg. On 14 March 2010 she improved on her world record by half a kilogram to clear 183 kg. From 2004 up to and including 2007 she was both European and World record holder in bench pressing.
In powerlifting she attained the world record in both 2006 and 2007 with 3 gold medals each. Strik competes in the class up to 90 kg. The world record bench press for women above 90 kg was improved in 2010 by the Russian Irina Lugovaya, who pushed 205 kg, unheard of for a woman before then. At these same championships the Dutch Joanne Schaefer attained a short-lived world record of 202.5 kg. For competitors up to 90 kg, Strik still holds the world record with her result of 183 kg.
Through the years Strik had many trainers and coaches of whom she's very grateful, by her own account.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
powerlifter
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
and a former gymnast
Artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, with less time for vaulting . The sport is governed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique , which designs the Code of Points and regulates all aspects of international elite...
and bodybuilder
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
.
Biography
Strik started gymnastics when she was five years old and practiced this for around 15 years, attaining a reasonably high domestic level. After her build changed she decided that perhaps fitnessFitness
Fitness may relate to:* Physical fitness, a general state of good health, usually as a result of exercise and nutrition * Cardiorespiratory fitness...
suited her better as a sport, quickly changing to bodybuilding
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
. After a number of successes Strik started powerlifting
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
in 2001. Quickly it turned out she possessed quite some strength and after a month of practicing the sport she entered the Dutch championships. Strik was immediately asked to join the Dutch selection.
Strik has a personal preference for bench press
Bench press
The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight...
and competes in this sport next to her powerlift competitions. In 2006 she broke the world record bench press, attaining a result of 182,5 kg. On 14 March 2010 she improved on her world record by half a kilogram to clear 183 kg. From 2004 up to and including 2007 she was both European and World record holder in bench pressing.
In powerlifting she attained the world record in both 2006 and 2007 with 3 gold medals each. Strik competes in the class up to 90 kg. The world record bench press for women above 90 kg was improved in 2010 by the Russian Irina Lugovaya, who pushed 205 kg, unheard of for a woman before then. At these same championships the Dutch Joanne Schaefer attained a short-lived world record of 202.5 kg. For competitors up to 90 kg, Strik still holds the world record with her result of 183 kg.
Through the years Strik had many trainers and coaches of whom she's very grateful, by her own account.
Ten selected results
| Year | Championship | Body weight | Squat Squat (exercise) In strength training, the squat is a compound, full body exercise that trains primarily the muscles of the thighs, hips and buttocks, quads , hamstrings, as well as strengthening the bones, ligaments and insertion of the tendons throughout the lower body... |
Bench press Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... |
Dead lift | Total weight | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | European championship Powerlifting | -90 kg | 255 | 165 | 220 | 640 (kg) | 1st  |
|
| 2009 | Dutch championship Powerlifting | -90 kg | 260 |
172,5 | 232,5 | 1st |
||
| 2008 | West-European championship Powerlifting | -90 kg | 255 | 172,5 | 230 | 657,5 | 1st |
|
| 2005 | World championship Powerlifting | -82,5 kg | 235 | 155 | 215 | 605 | 2nd  |
|
| 2004 | Dutch championship Powerlifting | -82,5 kg | 240 | 150 | 215 | 605 | 1st |
*=Dutch record.
| Year | Championship | Bodyweight | Bench press Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... |
Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Dutch championship bench press | -90 kg | 183 | 1st new world record |
|
| 2008 | World championship bench press | -90 kg | |172,5 + 172,5 | 1st |
|
| 2008 | "Arnold Classic Arnold Classic The Arnold Classic, renamed Arnold Fitness Weekend, is an annual bodybuilding competition, named after Arnold Schwarzenegger. It takes place in late February or early March in Columbus, Ohio, United States.-History:... " |
-90 kg | 182,5 | encore of world record 182,5 kg | |
| 2006 | West-European championship powerlifting | -90 kg | 182,5 | world record | |
| 2004 | World championships bench press | -90 kg | 150 + 150 | 1st |