ABS Powerlifting Series – Champions Archive
For nearly a decade, the ABS Powerlifting Series has crowned some of the world’s strongest lifters. Each champion etched their name into the history of the sport, carrying the ABS legacy forward and raising the standard for those who follow.
ABS PRO I (2018, Dublin)
Men — Barry Pigott
Barry Pigott remains the only Irishman to win the ABS PRO, taking the inaugural title in 2018 with a perfect 9/9 day and a 524 Wilks. He edged out Neijus Cekas—then the IPO all-time ranked lifter—by delivering on every attempt when it mattered most.
Women — Lina O’Sullivan
Lina O’Sullivan is the only Ireland-based female to win the ABS PRO. In a tense showdown with Irish IPF No.1 Bronagh McPeake, both athletes missed their opening squats, setting up a pressure-filled battle. Lina sealed the title on her second deadlift to cap a 7/9 performance.
ABS PRO II (2019, Dublin)
Women — Heather Connor
Heather Connor became the first non-European ABS PRO champion and the only IPF World Champion to win the event. She dominated the 2019 field—featuring Irish standouts Bronagh McPeake and Laura Vogelsang—and remains the lightest lifter to claim an ABS PRO crown.
Men — Artur Chzaszcz
Artur Chzaszcz made history as the first athlete to squat 400 kg on an ABS platform. He narrowly defeated Jake Brennan and two other contenders in a dramatic deadlift round where all four missed their third attempts, with Artur’s subtotal advantage proving decisive.
ABS Series 1 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Jake Brennan
Jake Brennan claimed his first Series title with a 915 kg total and his first ever 400 kg squat attempt. Series 1 marked the introduction of specialist bars and the monolift to the Series.
Women — Emma McDermott
Emma McDermott won the inaugural Series overall, pulling her first 200 kg in competition and topping both the lightweight and heavyweight splits (the only Series to use that format). Teammate Linh Nguyen won the lightweight division while Emma secured the overall.
ABS Series 3 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Jake Brennan
“Battle of Munda” delivered the greatest Irish head-to-head to date as Jake Brennan and Jesse Moran both broke the Irish all-time Wilks. Jesse missed his last pull, and Jake took the win by just 0.32 Wilks.
Women — Laura Vogelsang
Laura Vogelsang earned her first Series win and her first 500 Wilks on the ABS platform, separating from the field with a dominant all-round performance.
ABS Series 4 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Jake Brennan
In the first Series meet at the new ABS Powerlifting venue—run under Covid restrictions—Jake produced a rock-solid 965 kg total to defeat Ben Craughwell and move one step closer to the first 1000 kg total.
Women — Laura Vogelsang
Laura secured back-to-back Series titles with 597.5 kg, the biggest total and squat in Ireland at the time, finishing on a 520 Wilks ahead of Emma McDermott.
ABS Series 5 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Jake Brennan
A landmark day: Jake became Ireland’s first 1000 kg total and pushed the all-time Series Wilks to 552.11. It was his third straight Series win—the longest streak on the ABS platform.
Women — Laura Vogelsang
Laura became the first (and only) Irishwoman to total 600 kg at the Series, winning her third straight title with a flawless 9/9 and securing her place in Irish powerlifting history.
ABS Series 6 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Jesse Moran
Jesse returned to take his first Series title with 907.5 kg at 109.2 kg bodyweight, ahead of Ian Grant, with U23 lifters Mark Stell and Ion Calmic in the mix.
Women — Michaela Leonard
Michaela won her first Series event by beating Emma McDermott on the final deadlift. Her result stood as the top Dots from an Irish tested female in 2021.
ABS Series 7 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Jesse Moran
In the third chapter of the Jesse vs. Jake rivalry, Jesse delivered a masterclass 9/9 and a 935 kg total to take Ireland’s No.1 Dots, despite Jake’s new all-time Irish squat record of 430 kg.
Women — Laura Vogelsang
Laura captured a fourth consecutive Series title, defeating three-time Irish IPF champion Anna Hourihane—becoming the only lifter with four Series wins.
ABS Series 8 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Noel Whelan
Noel Whelan earned his first PRO-AM title over Robert Hazelton, becoming the lightest male PRO-AM winner in Series history at <74 kg bodyweight.
Women — Sandi Burke
Sandi Burke claimed her first PRO-AM title, becoming the first Master to win the Series’ top division, finishing ahead of Lauren Mullane and Katie Clarke—completing an ABS Powerlifting sweep in the PRO-AM division.
ABS PRO III (2020, Dublin)
Men — Luke Tolman
A late call-up didn’t faze Luke. He beat Dave Richardson and Jake Brennan with a clinical 9/9 and 902.5 kg at 98.2 kg BW—igniting the Luke–Dave saga and prompting Jesse Moran’s post-meet call-out for 2022.
Women — Denise Herber
In frigid November conditions following a Covid reschedule, Denise went 9/9 to become the first German ABS PRO champion. She and Laura Vogelsang were heavy favourites alongside defending champ Heather Connor, but Denise’s execution sealed it.
ABS Series 9 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Filippo Ingrosso
Filippo became the first Italian PRO-AM champion, winning despite a 4/9 day—the lowest successful attempt count by any PRO-AM winner—after nailing a decisive second deadlift.
Women — Lystus Ebosele
Lystus won her first PRO-AM convincingly, becoming the only athlete in Series history to start in Division 2 and go on to win a PRO-AM title.
ABS Series 10 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Kenneth Nwaezeigwe
One of the most competitive PRO-AMs to date. Despite missing his third squat, Ken went 8/9 to beat Urban Barbell’s Ian Benson (2nd) and ABS’s Noel Whelan (3rd).
Women — Rebecca Stace
Rebecca delivered Scotland’s first PRO-AM win with a perfect 9/9, finishing ahead of Finland’s Tuulikki Kare. A large Scottish contingent made its mark at Series 10.
ABS PRO IV (2022, Dublin)
Men — Dave Richardson
Dave produced a flawless 9/9 capped by a 397.5 kg pull to beat defending champion Luke Tolman by 0.3 Dots, totalling 1012.5 kg (U125). One of the biggest upsets in PRO history—and Dave’s first ABS PRO title.
Women — Anja Zosso
Anja stunned the field with a 9/9 to deny favourite Laura Vogelsang her first PRO crown, becoming the first Swiss ABS PRO champion and delivering coach Nico his second PRO win (after 2020 with Denise).
ABS Series 11 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Lenny O’Sullivan
After plenty of press-conference fireworks with Nick Mellor, underdog Lenny delivered an 8/9 with a big deadlift PB to win by two Dots on the final pull—his first PRO-AM title.
Women — Sara Šobak
Despite a serious pre-meet injury, Sara debuted with a gritty 7/9 and 505 Dots, becoming Croatia’s first Series PRO-AM champion. Her standout lift: a 125 kg bench under 63 kg.
ABS Series 12 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Luke Tolman
Round two of Luke vs. Jesse on specialist equipment. Luke took it again with 8/9 and 940 kg (U100), breaking the Junior ATWR bench at 257.5 kg. He became the first athlete to win both a PRO and a PRO-AM. The all-Irish battle for third saw Ian Benson and Noel Whelan both top 500 Dots, with Ian clinching it on his final pull.
Clash of the Titans I (2022, Dublin)
Champion — Fernando Arias
All ten athletes surpassed 900 kg—the strongest meet in European history at the time. 2022 ABS PRO champion Dave Richardson and newcomer Fernando Arias both broke 1000 kg, with Rob Spence totalling 977.5 kg in sleeves for third. Arias won with an 8/9 1035 kg—the biggest total ever on an ABS platform—narrowly missing a 427.5 kg third deadlift (2–1 reds). He became the first US male to win on the Series, breaking the Series all-time Dots, deadlift, and total marks.
ABS Series 13 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Lenny O’Sullivan
Lenny joined a select group to win back-to-back Series titles and became the first winner outside Dublin. In a finish reminiscent of Series 11, he hit his third deadlift while Tommy Bebb and Mike Jones missed theirs, taking victory by two Dots.
Women — Elspeth McLeod
In her second Series appearance, Elspeth dominated a stacked field with 7/9 and a PRO-qualifying Dots, becoming the first woman to win outside Dublin—finishing ahead of Rachael Purves and Louise Kenna.
ABS PRO V (2023, Dublin)
Men — Boris Tsvetkov
Bulgarian powerhouse Boris Tsvetkov raised the bar, becoming the first male to break 600 Wilks on the ABS platform. In a roster packed with world-class lifters—including favourite Nicolaas Du Preez—Boris stunned the field with a 400 kg squat and 1012.5 kg total at 104 kg BW.
Women — Denise Herber
Back from a 2022 calf injury, Denise broke the ABS PRO “one-and-done” trend to become the first two-time women’s champion with a masterful 652.5 kg U75 and 646 Wilks—the highest recorded powerbar formula score in the sport.
ABS Series 14 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Andrés Burgos Corral
In his Series debut—and the only male in sleeves—Andrés went 8/9 with a 325 kg raw squat. He narrowly missed a 350 kg deadlift but had already secured the win on his second attempt, making a statement performance on ABS debut.
ABS Series 15 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Women — Erin Gibson
Erin became the Series’ first Welsh champion and set the biggest women’s total ever at the Series with 657 kg, including a historic 275 kg second squat—the first 600 lb squat by a woman at ABS.
Men — Tómas Darri Þorsteinsson
In a stacked men’s PRO-AM, Tómas set the tone with a 3/3 squat and a massive 357.5 kg at 121 kg BW. After a perfect 3/3 bench, he locked the win on his second deadlift and sealed a 9/9, 950 kg total—becoming Iceland’s first Series champion.
Clash of the Titans II (2023, Dublin)
Champion — Dave Richardson
Dave made history as the first two-time ABS Series champion, beating franchise stars Nicolaas Du Preez and Fernando Arias with a clinical 9/9 and 1085 kg total—claiming both the No.1 lb-for-lb spot and the biggest total on the ABS platform. The event was Europe’s biggest yet, featuring five 1000 kg+ totals and the ABS debut of powerlifting legend Dan Bell.
Clash of the Titans III (2024, Dublin)
Champion — Zac Meyers
Clash of the Titans 3 was more than just another event—it marked the farewell to ABS HQ, long regarded as the mecca of pro powerlifting for the past five years. With defending champion Dave Richardson forced to vacate the belt after twice snapping his arm in training, a new champion was guaranteed. The stacked lineup featured John Hack, Justin Zottl, Nicolaas Du Preez, and Zac Meyers, all vying for the vacant title.
The final showdown came down to Zac and Nicolaas in a battle that went lift-for-lift to the very end. Nicolaas, twice a runner-up and the fans’ favourite, pulled for the win on his final deadlift but was red-lighted 2–1. That left Zac on top, sealing his second ABS title in just a matter of months. The result set the stage for an ultimate rematch at ABS PRO VII in Dublin, where Zac Meyers aimed to make history as the first lifter ever to hold three ABS belts.
This was a fitting way to bid farewell to ABS HQ and close the curtain on an historic five years at one of powerlifting’s most iconic venues.
ABS Series 18 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Colin Larkin Lynch
Although the roster was smaller than usual, the standard of lifting remained high. Colin Larkin Lynch rose to the occasion with a 520 Dots performance, securing his first PRO-AM victory and adding another Irish champion to the ABS platform.
Women — Anne Jeanette Saunders
Anne Jeanette Saunders made history in Dublin, becoming the oldest lifter ever — male or female — to win a PRO-AM title at 50 years of age. With a 455 Dots performance, she secured her qualification for the ABS PRO. Unfortunately, injuries later prevented her from competing, but her victory stands as one of the most memorable milestones in Series history.
ABS Series 19 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Freddie Isherwood
Freddie Isherwood returned to the ABS Series with one of the most clinical performances ever seen in a PRO-AM. Delivering a flawless 9/9 day, he totalled 900 kg and scored 550 Dots, outclassing the entire field with ease. This dominant showing not only secured the title but also earned Freddie qualification for his first ABS PRO the following year.
Women — Laura Vogelsang
Already the most decorated female in PRO-AM history, Laura Vogelsang once again proved her dominance on the ABS platform. Though not at her absolute peak, she cruised to victory with a 590 kg total and over 500 Dots, adding yet another PRO-AM title to her record and securing her return to the ABS PRO stage.
ABS Chicago PRO-AM (Regional Series, 2025)
Men — Fernando Arias
Franchise lifter Fernando Arias returned to the ABS platform with a commanding victory in the men’s PRO-AM division. Even without being at his very best, he secured the title with a 992.5 kg total, adding another win to his growing ABS résumé and further cementing his reputation as one of the Series’ elite performers.
Women — Susan Salazar
Veteran competitor Susan Salazar, long established on America’s top pro circuit, made her mark on the ABS stage with a hard-fought victory in the women’s PRO-AM. In a close battle with Alison Wharton, Susan edged ahead with a 515 Dots performance to claim her first PRO-AM title on the ABS platform.
ABS Series 20 (PRO-AM, Glasgow, Scotland)
Men — Alexis Carvalho
Portuguese No.1 Alexis Carvalho faced off against long-time rival Wiley Song in a dramatic head-to-head battle. Having lost to Wiley in their previous meeting, Alexis entered determined to turn the tables. After nearly bombing out on squats, he rallied through the bench and pulled himself back into contention on deadlifts. The duel came down to the final attempts, with both men missing their thirds—Wiley falling short on a technical call. That left Alexis in first place, earning his maiden PRO-AM title and becoming the first Portuguese man to win on the ABS platform.
Women — Susanna Tóth
Hungarian powerhouse Susanna Tóth was no stranger to the ABS stage, having already made podium finishes at the ABS PRO on two occasions. In Glasgow, she stepped into her first PRO-AM and delivered a commanding win to become the first Hungarian PRO-AM champion. Lifting in sleeves, she cruised past the competition and held off Tara Mooney in second place. The victory secured Susanna an invite to her third consecutive ABS PRO and further established her as one of the most consistent international competitors on the circuit.
ABS Series 21 (PRO-AM, Dublin)
Men — Reece Meakin
Reece Meakin captured his first PRO-AM victory in Dublin with a composed and clinical performance. Facing Hungarian regular Sabah Beza, Reece held his nerve throughout and finished with 546 Dots, securing both the win and his first-ever invitation to the ABS PRO. The result also made him the latest English lifter to join the growing list of PRO-AM champions on the ABS platform.
ABS PRO VII (2025, Dublin – Westside)
Men — Nicolaas Du Preez
After three consecutive runner-up finishes, Nicolaas Du Preez returned to the ABS stage for his fourth attempt at a belt, determined to end his streak of near misses. Standing in his way was Zac Meyers, chasing history as the first athlete to win the ABS Triple Crown. Their duel lived up to expectations, but this time Nicolaas delivered a flawless 9/9 performance, totalling 1065 kg on a power bar walk-out. The precision and consistency proved too much for Zac, who finished 5/9 and fell short of completing the Triple Crown. Shortly after, Zac announced he would vacate the Rumble belt to take an off-season.
Women — Stella Higgins
The stars aligned for Stella Higgins, who entered ABS PRO VII as a two-time runner-up to Denise Herber and Brianny Terry. Determined not to let another opportunity slip away, Stella produced her best performance yet, looking stronger than ever at a lighter bodyweight. Despite not being the top nomination coming in, she defeated a stacked lineup featuring UK No.1 Sharon Eggleton, Australian powerhouse Lily Riley