Raising the bar: Petersburg's Gabriele Whitacre lifts the barbell on June 13, 2026, in Chicago, Ill. during the USA Powerlifting Raw Nationals. Whitacre deadlifted 330 pounds, a five pound increase over her previous lift.
Another powerlifting competition, another record-setting performance for Petersburg local Gabriele Whitacre. This time, at the Raw Nationals in Chicago, Whitacre broke five Alaska state records – squat, deadlift, bench, total combined weight, and total push pill – for the Teen 3 division (18-19).
For bench, Whitacre broke the 200 barrier, benching 204 pounds, a 16.5-pound increase from her previous lift.
"That was surprising to me. I was hoping I would (break 200) but it felt very surreal when it happened," Whitacre said.
Whitacre's PR comes from her ability to remain consistent in her gym hab...
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