Jelgava Municipality Stage of “Latvia’s Strongest School 2026” Held in Valgunde
The Jelgava Municipality stage of Latvia’s school bench press championship took place at Valgunde sports hall on 13 October. Mikuss Medvedevs won the boys’ category with 100 kilograms, and Marina Šipuļina won the girls’ category with 32.5 kilograms.
On Tuesday, 13 October, Valgunde sports hall in Jelgava Municipality hosted a school powerlifting event: the Jelgava Municipality stage of the Latvian school bench press championship, also known as the “Latvia’s Strongest School 2026” project. The Latvian Powerlifting Federation (LPF) reported on the event. The project aims to introduce schoolchildren to this sport discipline.
An equal number of girls and boys took part, aged 10 to 14. Most participants represented Kalnciems Secondary School, and pupils of Platone Primary School also competed.
Boys’ results
The best result came from Mikuss Medvedevs, a student of Riga State Technical School, who pressed 100 kilograms. Mārtiņš Oļševskis of Kalnciems Secondary School took second place with 87.5 kilograms, and his schoolmate Radions Fiļimonovs was third with 55 kilograms.
Girls’ results
Marina Šipuļina of Kalnciems Secondary School won the girls’ category, pressing 32.5 kilograms. Arita Dulmane of Platone Primary School placed second with 12.5 kilograms. Alise Tolēna of Kalnciems Secondary School took third place with 30 kilograms.
About the project
The overall ranking was determined using IPF points, which make it possible to compare the results of athletes of different body weights. The “Latvia’s Strongest School” project has been running since 2018, and the competitions use relaxed rules.
A stage of the competition can be organised by the Latvian Powerlifting Federation, a school or a local government, after prior agreement with the federation. The results of all Jelgava Municipality stage participants are available on the federation’s website.
