David Marginson’s Record-Breaking European Debut

Wales’ own David Marginson put in one of the standout performances of the European Classic Masters Championships in the M4 u74s. He opened his day with a sharp 152.5 kg squat, followed by a strong 160 kg second attempt that set the tone for the battle to come. When a Danish lifter briefly claimed the European squat record, David answered the call, taking 166 kg and standing it up to push the European record up by 0.5 kg and secure squat gold in a tight, high-quality fight for the title.

On bench, David was just as composed: an easy 102.5 kg opener, a smooth 107.5 kg second for a personal best, and then a brilliant 110 kg third attempt to lock in bench bronze and keep his total on world-record pace.

Deadlifts were where things really stepped up. David opened on 207.5 kg – already a world-record total attempt in the M4 u74s – and made it look routine. He then moved to 220 kg, roughly 3× bodyweight, and pulled it well to push the world total mark even higher. For his final lift of the day, David called for 228 kg: a world-record deadlift attempt and another world-record total. He pulled it cleanly, finishing the day with gold in deadlift, gold in total, gold in squat and bronze in bench, and resetting the world total record three separate times, adding a huge 23.5 kg to the previous number.

By the end of the championship, David’s lifting earned him second place in the overall M4 best lifter standings with a massive 75.54 GL score, and he played a key role in the M4 GB team campaign, helping Great Britain secure team silver alongside his two fellow teammates. For a first international outing in GB colours, it was an incredible way to introduce himself on the European stage – world records, international medals, and a performance that shows exactly what Welsh masters lifters are capable of.

David, we salute you.