Belgian powerlifter Sonita Muluh lost the 2026 World Powerlifting Championship gold medal in Lithuania after a spotter interfered with her 334-kilogram squat attempt, an incident that later escalated when the spotter posted online that he sabotaged the lift out of racism, according to HLN and the International Powerlifting Federation.
How the 334-Kilogram Squat Incident Unfolded
During the 84-kilogram class competition at the 2026 World Powerlifting Championships in Lithuania, Sonita Muluh faced a decisive moment in her final squat attempt. According to HLN, Muluh needed to successfully lift 334 kilograms, but weights on one side of the barbell struck the knee of a spotter standing nearby to secure the platform. The physical contact disrupted her balance, causing her to fail the lift.
Muluh’s coach immediately appealed to the judging panel to grant a retake, but the judges did not witness the interference. Consequently, the missed lift stood, and the gold medal slipped out of Muluh’s grasp. She entered the competition as a proven international contender, having previously claimed the gold medal in the 84-kg division at the 2024 World Championships.
Online Confession Exposes Motive Behind the Interference
Weeks after the championship concluded, American powerlifter Joe Sullivan published an analytical video breaking down the competition footage. In the comment section of that video, the spotter involved in the incident—identified as Ernestas Kusinas—revealed why the barbell hit his knee, according to HLN.
”Synd för er, era idioter. Jag är rasist och jag gjorde det med flit eftersom jag hatar er, era jävla skitstövlar,” wrote Kusinas in an Instagram comment cited by HLN. English translations of the comment confirm the spotter admitted to intentionally disrupting the lift due to racial hatred.
Did you know? Spotters in competitive powerlifting are trained safety personnel whose primary role is to intervene and protect athletes if they fail to complete a lift independently.
Athlete Impact and Institutional Response
The online confession left Muluh deeply shaken. Having initially defended the spotter under the assumption that the collision was an honest accident, the revelation of intentional sabotage altered her perspective entirely. ”Att nu läsa det här från samma person är helt enkelt hjärtskärande,” Muluh wrote in a public statement on Facebook, noting that she has experienced racism in various forms before, but never in this manner. She told HLN that the stress of the ordeal has left her angry and struggling with sleep.
Swift disciplinary action followed the disclosure. The Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation issued a lifetime ban against Ernestas Kusinas, according to reporting by HLN. The national organization also announced plans to overhaul its event protocols and tighten vetting requirements for personnel volunteering or working at sanctioned competitions.
The International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) issued a formal statement addressing the controversy. ”Rasism, diskriminering och hat har ingen plats i vår sport,” the IPF stated. Subsequent investigations into Kusinas also revealed online connections to nazism on his personal Facebook profile, according to HLN’s findings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sonita Muluh?
Sonita Muluh is a 29-year-old elite Belgian powerlifter who competes in the 84-kilogram weight class and won gold at the 2024 World Powerlifting Championships.
What happened at the 2026 World Powerlifting Championships?
During her final 334-kilogram squat attempt, a spotter named Ernestas Kusinas made physical contact with the barbell, causing Muluh to fail the lift and lose the gold medal, according to HLN.
What punishment did the spotter receive?
Ernestas Kusinas was banned for life by the Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation after admitting on Instagram that he sabotaged the lift due to racism.
What does the International Powerlifting Federation say about the incident?
The IPF stated that racism, discrimination, and hate have no place in the sport of powerlifting.
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