From the 17th to the 20th of February 2026, the city of Merignac, France, hosted the European Universities Classic Powerlifting Cup 2026, held under the patronage of the European University Sports Association.

A total of 222 participants took part in the event. Among them were 124 athletes - 58 in the men’s division and 66 in the women’s division, supported by 75 coaches. The competitors contested medals in the squat, bench press, deadlift, and total across eight weight categories. Overall, 82 universities from 19 European countries competed for the Universities Cup title.

To ensure the highest standard of officiating, 23 referees from 14 European countries were invited to officiate at the European Universities Classic Powerlifting Cup.
The competition became a true celebration of performance, as athletes set 28 new EUSA records across both divisions. These were 6 squat records, 9 bench press records, 6 deadlift records, and 7 records in total. The level of preparation and results was outstanding, delivering unforgettable battles in nearly every weight category.

Beyond the individual weight class champions, the event also crowned the Best Lifters in both divisions, determined by the IPF GL Points system.
In the men’s division, the Best Lifter title went to Erik Nemec (Jan Evangelista Purkyne University in Ustí nad Labem, CZE), who scored 101.1442 IPF GL Points. Competing in the 93 kg weight class, he totalled 772.5 kg and set two EUSA records: in the deadlift and total.

In the women’s division, the Best Lifter was Kaya Goossens (University of Gent, BEL), who achieved 102.4926 IPF GL Points. Competing in the 69 kg weight class, she totalled 494 kg, demonstrated clear dominance throughout the competition, and set a new EUSA squat record.

In the interview, Kaya shared her feelings after the victory: “I study bioscience engineering. It needs good planning and a lot of preparation, but if you really want something, you can make things work out. The competition standards are really rising, and I really think it brings the best out of you as an athlete, because you want to do better. The goal for this competition was to play safe and secure the gold medal, and that’s exactly what we did. I’m really happy with my performance, and I wanted to take the squat record, and this year I was able to take it on my second attempt and also increase it on my third attempt.”

The Universities Cup was marked by intense competition, strong determination, and performances that left a lasting impression on everyone involved.
The Best Team awards were also presented to the three leading universities, honouring their consistency, resilience, and collective effort throughout the event. Their dedication, discipline, and team spirit significantly enhanced the level and prestige of the competition.

The best teams of the European Universities Classic Powerlifting Cup 2025 were:
Women
1. University of Ljubljana (SLO) – 22 Pts.
2. San Raffaele University (ITA) – 21 Pts.
3. University of Chemistry and Technology Prague (CZE) – 20 Pts.

Men
1. University of Paris (FRA) – 20 Pts.
2. Catholic University of Louvain (BEL) – 19 Pts.
3. Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZE) – 18 Pts.

At the event, EUSA was represented by Cedric Terret, EUSA Executive Committee Member, and EUSA Sports Officer, Kinga Gaal, who also addressed the participants during the Opening Ceremony and awarded the medals to the athletes, creating a truly special moment for the students. Their presence, along with the presence of EPF President Bjorn Astad and EPF Secretary General Tetiana Melnyk, highlighted the growing role of powerlifting within the university sports system in Europe and reaffirmed the strong partnership between EUSA and the European Powerlifting Federation. This cooperation will lead to the transition from the EPF Universities Cup to the EUSA Universities Championships in powerlifting.

Overall, the European Universities Classic Powerlifting Cup 2026 proved to be highly successful. The competition featured impressive results, new records, and a positive atmosphere built on mutual respect and fair play. Beyond individual achievements, the event clearly demonstrated the value of teamwork and collective effort in university sport.

For more information, please see https://www.europowerlifting.org/