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A Saskatoon teenager has made history by setting a new world record in Olympic weight-lifting.
Etta Love, 17, successfully clean-and-jerked 146 kilograms to surpass the previous youth world record of 145 kilograms while competing in the female over-87 kg weight category at the Junior (U21) World Championships in Leon, Spain.
“I’ve been thinking about this moment and training for it every single day,” said Love. “To represent Canada on this level and break a world record means everything.”
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This achievement is not only significant as Canada’s first world record in modern weightlifting but also the first-ever by a Canadian woman. The last Canadian to set a world record was Doug Hepburn in the early 1950s in the clean and press — decades before women were even allowed to compete.
Back when she was 13, Love became the youngest female in North America to lift over 200 kg, breaking Cheryl Haworth’s long-standing record.
Love has since shattered multiple Pan-American records. Since 2022, Love has increased the previous clean-and-jerk record by 16 kilos..
“I see these competitions as a way to honour a promise to my younger self, staying focused on my ‘why’ motivates me to do the work and show up every day,” stated Love. “A competition like ‘worlds’ may seem like hard work but really it is my reward for the hard work done day-to-day.”
With her world record, numerous titles — including youth world champion and now the youth world record to her name — Love sets her sights on the 2028 Olympic Games.
Love is off to Bahrain for the Senior World Championship in December to break the remaining two youth world records.
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