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Vegan athlete Sophia Ellis has taken home a bronze medal in deadlifting at the IPF World Classic Championships. She ranked fourth overall – across squat, bench, and deadlift categories.
Ellis deadlifted 227.5kg in the women’s 76kg category. As well as securing the bronze medal, the lift broke the British women’s deadlift record. Across the squat, bench, and deadlift categories, she reached a total of 490kg (1,080.3lbs).
“Now the dust has settled, it’s starting to hit me how crazy this is. My first ever IPF World Classic Championships and I made it on the podium,” she wrote on Instagram.
But Ellis is no stranger to the podium. She came out in the top spot for the UK nationals event. In fact, Ellis has been crowned British Champion and Commonwealth Powerlifting Champion twice.
Further, Ellis holds 14 records, according to her website, including the British record in bench press and deadlift.
Ellis spoke to Plant Based News about her most recent win. “I’m feeling extremely honored to have represented my country at the IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships,” the athlete said.
“This sport has only changed my life for the better; it’s allowed me to focus on what my body is capable of, to take up space, grow in confidence, and find strength through adversity.
“I’m wanting to show others that you can be strong and vegan. You don’t have to compromise.”
Vegan athletes
Ellis isn’t alone in her efforts proving the power of plants.
Just last month, vegan athlete Lewis Hamilton claimed his 100th victory in the Russian Grand Prix. The win made him the first Formula 1 driver to do so.
The month prior, a mostly vegan team placed fourth in the world at the 2021 CrossFit Games.
In July, vegan ultrarunner Harvey Lewis bagged first place in this year’s Badwater 135, known as ‘the world’s toughest foot race’. And in June, plant-based tennis star Novak Djokovic won his 19th Grand Slam title.
This article was updated on October 11, 2021 to include new information about Ellis’ lifts.
