Bonica Brown

She is a World Games champion, a 4-time Equipped World Champion, a 2-time Sub-Junior Equipped World Champion, and a 7-time Classic World Champion, and she has held multiple world records in each division.

Bonica Brown

Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	(1988-08-04) August 4, 1988 (age 35)
Weight	149.6 kg (330 lb)
Sport
Country	United States (2003–2008; 2013–present)
Sport	Powerlifting
Event	84+ kg
Medal record Women's powerlifting Representing  United States The World Games 2022 Birmingham Super heavyweight 2017 Wroclaw Super heavyweight IPF World Equipped Powerlifting Championships 5th 2004 Cahors – 90 kg 2005 Ylitornio – 90 kg 2006 Stavanger – 90 kg 4th 2007 New Delhi – 90 kg 2014 Aurura 84+ kg 2016 Orlando 84+ kg 2017 Pilsen 84+ kg 2018 Halmstad 84+ kg 2019 Dubai 84+ kg IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships 2014 Potchefstroom 84+ kg 2015 Salo 84+ kg 2016 Killeen 84+ kg 2017 Minsk 84+ kg 2018 Calgary 84+ kg 2019 Helsingborg 84+ kg 2022 Sun City 84+ kg DNF 2023 St. Julian's 84+ kg SBD Sheffield Powerlifting Championships 5th 2023 Sheffield Absolute IPF World Sub-Junior Powerlifting Championships 2004 Pretoria – 90 kg 2005 Fort Wayne – 90 kg USA Powerlifting Equipped Nationals 2004 Omaha – 90 kg 2005 Louis – 90 kg 2006 Denver – 90 kg 2007 Baton Rouge – 90 kg 2008 Killeen – 90 kg 2014 Baton Rouge 84+ kg 2016 Aurora 84+ kg 2018 Spokane 84+ kg 2019 Lombaro 84+ kg Powerlifting America Raw Nationals 2022 Austin 84+ kg 2024 Reno 84+ kg USA Powerlifting Raw Nationals 2014 Aurora 84+ kg 2015 Scranton 84+ kg 2016 Atlanta 84+ kg 2017 Orlando 84+ kg 2018 Spokane 84+ kg 2019 Lombard 84+ kg 2021 Daytona Beach 84+ kg

Powerlifting championships

2002–2008: Junior & 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.

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 – 11/10/2006 (-90 kg)
• Bench Press – 125 kg – IPF Sub-Junior World Record – 11/10/2006 (-90 kg)
• Deadlift – 212.5 kg – IPF Sub-Junior World Record – 11/10/2006 (-90 kg)
• Total – 567.5 kg – IPF Sub-Junior World Record – 11/10/2006 (-90 kg)
• Deadlift – 260.5 kg – USA Powerlifting Equipped American Record – 5/18/2018 (+84 kg)
• Total – 778 kg – USA Powerlifting Equipped American Record – 5/18/2018 (+84 kg)
• Squat – 325 kg – USA Powerlifting Equipped American Record – 5/3/2019 (+84 kg)
• Bench Press – 220 kg – USA Powerlifting Equipped Full Power American Record – 11/18/2019 (+84 kg)
• Bench Press – 220 kg – USA Powerlifting Equipped Bench Press Only American Record – 11/18/2019 (+84 kg)
• Squat – 322.5 kg – IPF Equipped Open World Record – 7/10/2022 (+84 kg)
• Total – 791 kg – IPF Equipped Open World Record – 7/10/2022 (+84 kg)

Raw

• Squat – 242.5 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw American Record – 7/20/2014 (+90 kg)
• Bench Press – 140 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw Full Power American Record – 10/10/2014 (+90 kg)
• Deadlift – 227.5 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw American Record – 7/20/2014 (+90 kg)
• Total – 610 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw American Record – 7/20/2014 (+90 kg)
• Bench Press – 151.5 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw Full Power American Record – 10/10/2017 (+84 kg)
• Bench Press – 151.5 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw Bench Press Only American Record – 10/10/2017 (+84 kg)
• Bench Press – 151.5 kg – IPF Classic Open Full Power World Record – 6/6/2018 (+84 kg)
• Bench Press – 151.5 kg – IPF Classic Open Bench Press Only World Record – 6/6/2018 (+84 kg)
• Deadlift – 247 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw American Record – 6/6/2018 (+84 kg)
• Deadlift – 247 kg – IPF Classic Open World Record – 6/6/2018 (+84 kg)
• Total – 671.5 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw American Record – 6/6/2018 (+84 kg)
• Squat – 276 kg – USA Powerlifting Raw American Record – 6/1/2021 (+84 kg)
• Squat – 280 kg – IPF Classic Open World Record – 3/25/2023 (+84 kg)
• Total – 680 kg – IPF Classic Open World Record – 3/25/2023 (+84 kg)