Simpson wins overall gold, Boehm takes two bronze at World Powerlifting

Special Olympics Indiana Hamilton County athletes Sky Simpson and Ben Boehm both brought home medals from the 2024 IPF World Equipped Open Powerlifting Championships in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Simpson won the overall gold medal for the Special Olympics 205-pound division, clearing weights of 127.5kg in the squat, 97.5kg in bench, 107.5kg in deadlift for a 332.5 total. His squat and bench efforts also earned gold with deadlift gaining silver.

Boehm earned bronze in the squat (93.5) and bench (70) in the 145-pound class. He was fourth in the deadlift (100) and total (262.5).

Simpson and Boehm earned their spots on the world’s biggest powerlifting stage through their rankings in Powerlifting America competitions.

“These men represented the USA, Special Olympics Indiana, their families and themselves with pride,” said Kyle Moran, the Special Olympics Indiana Manager of Health and Fitness and a U.S. coach. “They both had to overcome some adversity, dig in and make some big lifts to earn their medals against Special Olympics athletes from all over the world.

“It also was awesome to get some time to just hang out and experience the whole package. The support Sky and Ben got from athletes from around the world was inspiring. It was a true inclusion event.”

Boehm, 23, joined Special Olympics Indiana in 2014. He swept all four of his events at the 2024 Summer Games, earning gold in bench press, deadlift, squat and combination. Simpson, 23, has competed with Special Olympics Indiana since 2015, earning a Summer Games gold medal in bench press and bronze medals in squat and the combined event.