Ukrainian Daria Rusanenko sets world record in squat at World Games, takes silver overall

What weight did Rusanenko lift

On the final day of competitions at the World Games, the competitions in equipped powerlifting among women in the superheavyweight category took place. The honor of Ukraine was defended by Daria Rusanenko and Valentyna Zahoruiko.

Rusanenko immediately made a loud statement about herself. In the first exercise, the squat with a barbell, she set a world record, lifting 285.5 kilograms. This result brought her to interim leadership in the final. Zahoruiko also achieved a high result – 280 kilograms - and took second place after the first round.

However, in the second exercise, the situation changed: Rusanenko dropped to second position, and Zahoruiko fell to fifth. In the deadlift, Daria lifted 217.5 kilograms, but this was not enough to return to the top.

In the end, Rusanenko finished the competition with "silver," totaling 670.5 kilograms and 108.98 points, taking into account her own body weight. The winner was Canadian Rhaea Stinn with a result of 109.24 points.

In general, the Ukrainian team won nine awards in powerlifting and secured its victory in advance in the medal standings at the World Games. Earlier, "gold" was also won by Kostiantyn Musiienko in the men’s heavyweight division, which finally cemented Ukraine’s leadership.

What you need to know about the World Games

The World Games are international multisport competitions that unite sports not represented at the Olympic Games. The strongest athletes of the planet take part in them, selected by the rankings of world federations. The competitions are held once every four years under the aegis of the International World Games Association (IWGA), and are organizationally supported by the IOC.

This year’s tournament drew more than 3,000 athletes from various countries, and powerlifting emerged as one of the most successful disciplines for the Ukrainian team in terms of medal count.

Ukrainian team composition at the World Games 2025

Sports acrobatics (August 8–10): 13 athletes — Ivan Horlach, Stanislav Kukurudz, Sofronii Davydenko, Ivan Labunets, Yurii Push, Yurii Savka, Taras Yarush, Ruzanna Vecheruk, Anhelina Cherniavska, Alina Puhach, Karina Ostrovska, Elina Kozachanska, Yevfrosyniia Kryvytska.

Aerobics: Stanislav Halaida, Anastasiia Kurashvili.

Trampoline (August 8–10): Andrii Sokolov, Denys Vlasov, Tymofii Chernovyi, Diana Denysova.

Karate (August 8–9): Andrii Zaplitnyi, Valerii Chobotar, Rizvan Talibov, Anzhelika Terliuga.

Muay Thai (August 8–11): Dmytro Shelesko, Oleksandr Yefymenko, Anastasiia Mykhailenko.

Kickboxing (August 12–14): Hlib Mazur, Roman Shcherbatiuk, Daryna Ivanova, Alina Martyniuk.

Sambo (August 13–14): Oleksandr Voropaiev, Anatolii Voloshynov, Petro Davydenko, Andrii Kucherenko, Vladyslav Rudniev, Anhelina Lysenko, Yevheniia Pozdnia.

Jiu-Jitsu (August 10–12): Vohdan Mochulskyi, Kostiantyn Shutko.

Wushu (August 8–12): Volodymyr Shevchenko, Oryna Ivanova.

Finswimming (August 10–11): Artur Artamonov, Oleksii Zakharov, Viktoriia Uvarova, Sofiia Lamakh, Anastasiia Makarenko, Yevheniia Tymoshenko, Sofiia Hrechko, Anna Yakovlieva.

Freediving (August 10–11): Kateryna Sadurska.

Wakeboarding (August 8–10): Volodymyr Chuba, Sofiia Sokolova.

Rowing (August 9–10): Maksym Redko.

Powerlifting (August 14–17): Mykola Barannik, Vitalii Kolomiiets, Volodymyr Rysiev, Anatolii Novopysmennyi, Kostiantyn Musiienko, Oleksii Bychkov, Andrii Shevchenko, Tetiana Bila, Anastasiia Derevianko, Larysa Soloviova, Daria Rusanenko, Valentyna Zahoruiko.

Cheerleading (August 15–16): Anastasiia-Anna Maloshenko, Yelyzaveta Tymofieieva.

Orienteering (August 8, 10–11): Illia Otreshko, Olena Babych.

Climbing (August 14–16): Kostiantyn Pavlenko, Denys Mozolevych, Yaroslav Tkach, Hryhorii Ilchyshyn.

Squash (August 8–12): Dmytro Shcherbakov, Alina Bushma.

Dance sport (August 8–9, 16–17): Oleh Kuznietsov, Anna Ponomarenko, Kateryna Pavlenko, Erl Williamson, Veronika Myshko, Emanuel Cannistraro, Alla Liubanetska.