Nearly a year after capturing gold at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, Great Britain's Jurins Kengamu continues to build on the biggest achievement of his powerlifting career.
In August 2025, Kengamu claimed the gold medal in the Powerlifting Classic Middleweight Men competition at The World Games Chengdu 2025, finishing ahead of Hungary's Enahoro Asein, who took silver, and Norway's Kjell Bakkelund, who secured bronze.
Competing in his first edition of The World Games, Kengamu delivered a standout performance that earned him not only the top spot on the podium but also recognition as one of the event's standout athletes.
Now, in June 2026, the British lifter remains among the world's elite. This week, he added another major international medal to his collection by winning bronze at the 2026 IPF World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships in Druskininkai, finishing with an impressive 845kg total.
Looking back on his experience in Chengdu, Kengamu says one moment stands above all others.
"One moment I'll never forget from The World Games 2025 Chengdu was being named Athlete of the Day among so many sports and athletes," he recalled.
"It was incredibly humbling, and in that moment I felt like a true superstar. Putting the sport of powerlifting into the spotlight really showed me how special the event was."
The honour was made even more memorable by celebrating it alongside his teammates after competition.
Standing atop the podium in Chengdu remains another defining memory.
"Standing on the podium and receiving my gold medal was an overwhelming mix of pride, relief, and gratitude," Kengamu said.
"Everything – years of training, sacrifices and challenges – felt worth it. It wasn't just about winning; it represented the journey and the support from everyone who believed in me."
The road to gold was far from easy. Kengamu highlighted the challenge of balancing the intense physical demands of competition with the mental pressure that accompanies competing on one of the sport's biggest stages.
"The biggest challenge I faced was managing the mental pressure alongside the physical demands of competition," he explained.
"Having a small flight of five lifters in my category was really tough physically and mentally. But Team GB coaches and my teammates were there to get me through every minute."
What made The World Games unique, he says, was the opportunity to represent not only his country but also the sport of powerlifting alongside athletes from dozens of different disciplines.
"There's a strong feeling of being part of something bigger," Kengamu said.
"The atmosphere is different. It feels less like just another competition and more like a celebration of sport."
That spirit extended beyond the competition platform. Among his favourite memories were meeting athletes from other sports, including tug of war and speed skating competitors.
"Despite our sports being so different, we shared the same dedication, sacrifices and passion," he said.
"It really highlighted the spirit of The World Games, bringing people together through sport and creating connections beyond competition."
With Chengdu still fresh in his mind and another international medal now secured, Kengamu has already set his sights on the future. His next major goal is qualifying for The World Games 2029 in Karlsruhe, Germany.
"Competing in Chengdu was such a special experience that it's motivated me to keep pushing and improving," he said.
"I know it will take a lot of hard work and consistency, but I'm excited about the challenge and the opportunity to represent my sport on that stage again."