Are The Juniors Too Old In Powerlifting?
A Comparison To Other Sports
Introduction
When Joseph Borenstein totalled 900kg at 22 years old to become the first 83kg lifter to officially break this barrier, he did so whilst still competing as a "junior." When Nonso Chinye deadlifted 400kg at 20 to set both junior and open world records, he was still technically in his developmental years according to the current IPF classifications for juniors. When Betty Aborah pulled 232kg at 22 to break the open deadlift world record, she was still categorised alongside lifters who might be five years younger.
These performances and reocrds are coming from the junior ranks and there are even more juniors looking like they will take the sport by storm in the next few years while still competing in the junior classes.
This raised the question in my mind “are the age categories correct in Powerliting”
When you look a bit deeper and compare to other sports you will find the IPF maintains one of the oldest junior age limits in competitive sport. Athletes remain juniors for the entire calendar year in which they turn 23, meaning a January baby can compete as a junior until they're nearly 24 years old. For this newsletter I wanted to examine whether this system still serves the sport's best interests and the big question of whehter there should be change within the sport.
The Evidence: Age Limits Across Sports
To understand how unusual powerlifting's approach is, I analysed junior age limits across multiple international sports:
The pattern is clear: powerlifting stands virtually alone with a junior age limit of 23. Only cycling reaches the same effective senior transition age, but achieves this through an intermediate U23 category rather than an extended junior classification.
The approach of intermediate categories is interesting, Powerlifting has a version of this with sub juniors, which would be the lifter’s 18th birthday year.
I immediatly think of the ‘why’ of the age categories, what would be the rationale for their existence?
Biological Development: When Are Athletes Actually Mature?
The biological evidence reveals important distinctions between male and female development:
Female Development:
Peak height velocity occurs around age 11.5 years
Growth typically stops between ages 14-16
Bone maturation is more advanced than males at the same chronological age
Growth plates close approximately 2 years earlier than males
Male Development:
Peak height velocity occurs around age 13.5 years
Growth typically stops between ages 17-18
Peak bone mass occurs 9-12 months after peak height growth
Bone maturation process continues longer than females
Both sexes:
Peak bone mass achieved between ages 20-30, with some studies showing mid-20s as optimal
Growth plates completely ossify in early twenties
Estrogens are essential for growth plate fusion in both sexes
This data suggests that whilst males may benefit from extended development into their early twenties, both sexes are structurally mature well before age 23. The biological argument for maintaining junior status until 24 lacks scientific support.
The Performance Revolution
In 2024 six of the top twenty lifters in GL/IPF points across both mens and womens categories were 23 or under. 30% is a very high number for the absolute best performers in the sport.
The evidence from current world record holders demonstrates that junior athletes are not only competing with seniors, they are dominating them:
Joseph Borenstein (22 years old, 83kg):
First 83kg lifter to total 900kg officially
Current world champion and total world record holder
Set both Open Total and Junior Bench Press world records at 2025 IPF Worlds
Nonso Chinye (20 years old, 120kg):
Current European champion
Holds both junior and open deadlift world record of 400kg
Set the record at the 2025 EPF European Classic Championships
Betty Aborah (22 years old, 63kg):
Set the Open deadlift world record of 232kg as a junior
Broke both junior and open records at the 2024 Euro Muscle Show
Jade Jacob (France, 57kg):
Open world champion whilst still competing as a junior
Set squat world records that surpass senior benchmarks
These performances represent a fundamental shift. When junior athletes consistently exceed senior world records, the classification system has failed its primary purpose.
Training Age vs Biological Age
The argument for extended junior categories becomes even weaker when examining training age versus biological age. Historically, powerlifters often discovered the sport after competitive careers in other disciplines - former rugby players, throwers, or weightlifters who transitioned to powerlifting in their twenties or thirties. These athletes required extended development periods to master powerlifting-specific techniques despite being biologically mature.
Today's elite juniors tell a completely different story. Joseph Borenstein began his powerlifting training at 16. Nonso Chinye has been competing since the same age. Normally you would assume that 10- years of dedicated training will allow you to acheive your potential in a given sport. These athletes possess 5-7 years of powerlifting-specific training by age 20-22, often exceeding the specific training age of many senior competitors.
Training age, the years spent developing powerlifting-specific movement patterns, competition experience, and technical mastery appears to have become more predictive of performance than biological age. When a 22-year-old has been perfecting their squat, bench, and deadlift for six years, they're not developmentally behind a 25-year-old who started powerlifting four years ago. The extended junior categories now protect athletes who may be chronologically younger but possess superior powerlifting maturity.
Historical Context vs The Current Iteration
The rationale for powerlifting's extended junior categories may have been valid historically:
Equipment Mastery: Supportive equipment required years to master effectively
Later Specialisation: Athletes often discovered powerlifting later in their development
Limited Competition: Fewer opportunities meant slower progression through competitive ranks
However, modern powerlifting operates differently:
Early Specialisation: Many elite lifters begin serious training in their mid-teens
Advanced Coaching: Better understanding of youth development and programming
Barrier To Entry: The cost and equipement needs required to be training at a very high level has dropped signifcantly since the rise of claasic Powerlifting
Increased Participation: More competitive opportunities at all levels
What Could Change?
Based on this analysis, several changes could better serve the sport
(I have to add my personal opinion, I love historical records and think changing weight classes categories around 2011/12 caused many to forget the great lifters who came before, the history is so important to the sport)
1. Lower Junior Age Limit to 20 Align with international sporting norms whilst maintaining meaningful junior categories.
2. Create U23 Category Implement an intermediate category for ages 21-23, following the cycling model.
3. Maintain Separate Records Preserve historical achievements whilst acknowledging new competitive structure.
4. Gradual Implementation Announce changes with 2-year lead time for athlete planning and federation preparation.
5. Enhanced Youth Development Focus resources on true developmental categories (16-19) rather than extending "junior" status into mid-twenties.
International Precedent
Successful models exist across multiple sports:
Cycling's Three-Tier System: Junior (U19) → U23 → Elite provides optimal progression.
Weightlifting's Direct Transition: Moving from junior (20) to senior (21) without intermediate categories has produced good results.
Combat Sports' Safety Focus: Boxing and wrestling prioritise safety through appropriate age groupings whilst maintaining competitive integrity.
These sports demonstrate that earlier transitions to senior competition enhance rather than hinder development.
The Path Forward
I beleive the evidence overwhelmingly supports reforming powerlifting's age categories. When 20-22 year old "juniors" consistently challenge for world titles and breka world records, the system potentially no longer serves its intended purpose.