Namibian powerlifter Melt Meyer has qualified for this year’s African Championships following his outstanding performance in the men’s open deadlift division (110kg) class at the AWPC South African Championships, with a deadlift of 300kg.
The competition took place over the weekend.
Meyer tells The Namibian Sport that he only had four weeks to prepare for the competition due to a change of requirements to qualify for the African Championships.
“I wasn’t nearly at my best, I plan on deadlifting 320kg at the African champs, I also won the trophy for best men’s open deadlift athlete at the competition,” he says.
“I’ve now qualified for the African Championships set for Durban later this year, and my goals are to set the all time African Amateur World Powerlifting Congress (AWPC) deadlift record, and to win gold at the championships for my country.
“I have 20 weeks to prepare, and I have my eyes set on the gold and African record. I am a fully tested athlete and the AWPC, the federation in which I compete, is World Anti-Doping Agency compliant. Performance enhancing drugs are strictly forbidden,” he stresses.
Meyer (25), has been doing powerlifting since the end of 2018.
“I’ve competed at multiple international competitions, including African championships and world championships.”
He clinched silver at the 2019 IPF World Championships in the sub junior under-18 class. He also won gold at the IPF World Championships junior class U23.
“Up until 2024, I competed as a junior powerlifter, but I’ve since moved over to the men’s open division after turning 24. Open class ages are 24-39, the most competitive class in all of powerlifting. I took 2025 off to prepare for my open class debut.”
Meyer holds the all time Namibian deadlift record of 300kg set in 2024.
“My first open class athlete debut was a deadlift competition held on 28 March in Windhoek. I took first place in the men’s open division, which qualified me to compete at the AWPC South African Championships – a qualifying competition for the African Championships – scheduled for 24 September this year.
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