European Bench Press Championship: Karmen Kaljula wins gold

The European Bench Press Championship was held in Druskininkai, Lithuania, from August 2 to 9, where Estonia's national team won two medals in the adult open category. In the equipped bench press, Karmen Kaljula became European champion in the under-69kg weight class with a result of 170kg. This marked the first time an Estonian woman has won the European title in the open category equipped bench press. Notably, Kaljula's result also matched a record set two years earlier in the under-76kg category.

Hjalmar Mäe took bronze in the over-120kg category with a result of 320kg.

Overall medal count

In total, Estonian athletes won 22 medals at the championship — 8 gold, 3 silver and 11 bronze. Of these, 19 medals came from individual competition and three from team standings. Head coach Kaido Leesmann praised the team's unity and the high level of the athletes, noting that although they represent different clubs and compete against each other domestically, at this event they acted as one team. He said that setting personal records and winning medals at a European championship is a major achievement, and described the performance as one of the most successful showings by Estonian powerlifters abroad in the sport's history.

A record-large Estonian delegation of 29 athletes — nine women and 20 men — competed in classic and equipped bench press across various age categories, making 33 competitive starts in total. Besides Kaljula's and Mäe's medals, Estonian athletes secured further gold, silver and bronze medals across other weight and age categories, including youth and junior team bronze medals.