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submitted 2 weeks ago by cm0002@infosec.pub to c/world@quokk.au

Belgian powerlifter Sonita Muluh has fallen victim to sabotage by a Lithuanian staff member during the World Championships Powerlifting in June.

The man, who was a spotter for Muluh during her attempt to squat 334 kilograms, placed his knee under the weights, causing an incomplete motion and a failed attempt. Spotters are only allowed to touch the weights if the athlete can no longer support them.

Muluh's coach pleaded to get her one more attempt to squat the weights, but the judges were unrelenting, and Muluh saw her hopes at a second world title disappear.

Footage of the apparent mistake was published and spread in the powerlifting community until people noticed a remarkable comment. Ernestas Kusinas responded to a video from an American influencer by saying, "I'm racist, and I did it on purpose, because I hate you pieces of sh*t."

It was quickly figured out that Kusinas was the spotter that has caused the failed attempt. His admission to sabotage saw him receive a lifetime ban from any competitions from the Lithuanian association.

Muluh took to social media to air her frustrations and anger. "I have dealt with racism in numerous ways but never in this manner," she posted with a video showing the spotter sabotaging her attempt and his comment admitting guilt.

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[-] frongt@lemmy.zip 132 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Nothing says racial superiority like having to sabotage someone

[-] atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works 53 points 2 weeks ago

Based on what I know about pricks like this, that he “tricked” her is part of the badge of honor. There is a “you should have known better” or “you weren’t smart enough to see it coming” attitude about these kinds of assholes in my experience, just like with any other bullying.

[-] grte@lemmy.ca 85 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

While Muluh initially defended the staff member, thinking he had made a simple mistake, it was later discovered he acted purposely and with a racist motive.

She even had grace for this POS initially. I guess not having to worry about shady spotters is one of the nice parts of being on the weightlifting side of strength sports.

[Edit] She also nailed that lift. Absolutely robbed.

[-] inb4_FoundTheVegan@lemmy.world 66 points 2 weeks ago

Muluh during her attempt to squat 334 kilograms

That is about 736 pounds, or roughly 1/3 of a ton.

I no longer want to focus on this racist PoS, but this absolute goddamn legend. I honestly struggle to comprehend how the human body can even do this.

[-] StillAlive@piefed.world 34 points 2 weeks ago

She is 135 kg so she's lifting almost 3 times her own weight. That's insane.

[-] quick_snail@feddit.nl 2 points 2 weeks ago

Well, to be clear, she didn't lift it

[-] StillAlive@piefed.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

She did lift 318 kg last year and it is not unreasonable that she might have lifted that much while preparing for this championship.

I don't know anything about sports but I don't think you can just decide to lift that much weight without any practice.

[-] JustDory@lemmy.today 5 points 2 weeks ago

It's a truly insane feat, I am pretty amazed by what she did

[-] quick_snail@feddit.nl 1 points 2 weeks ago
[-] Leviathan@lemmy.world 46 points 2 weeks ago

"I'm racist, but instead of believing my race is inherently better than yours I believe yours is inherently better than mine. Why else would I feel the need to sabotage you?"

[-] ytg@sopuli.xyz 12 points 2 weeks ago

A surprisingly common attitude, historically speaking

[-] quick_snail@feddit.nl 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

What he means is that he's not ideologically a racist.

He's saying that he fell victim to the scapegoating by fascism that <insert ethnic minority> is the reason why he's struggling in capitalist society.

[-] nullspace@lemmy.world 37 points 2 weeks ago

It's strange that she couldn't get a second attempt with a different spotter. It seems like a failing of sports regulation.

[-] alapakala@quokk.au 37 points 2 weeks ago

This sport, you get 3 attempts.
The Nazi sabotaged her 3rd squat.
The judges are equally racists for disqualifying her for the sabotaged 3rd attempt.

[-] 0ops@piefed.zip 30 points 2 weeks ago

That's so fucked. Why are people like this? Just rotten, man

[-] CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de 26 points 2 weeks ago

This should be considered assault.

[-] lennee@lemmy.world 18 points 2 weeks ago

i mean nah but like should be liable for damages after admitting it was on purpose

[-] CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de 19 points 2 weeks ago

If you’ve ever done a max squat, imagine someone giving you a shove at the bottom. Now do it with 330kg; a wrong wiggle can mean permanent disability.

[-] lennee@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

but by placing his knee under the wait therefore not allowing to complete the full motion he is not seriously risking injury to the athlete as i understand it? Like obviously in the case you laid out here i would agree with ya

[-] Pollo_Jack@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

I mean, you hit a crane carrying weight with a standard hammer. It probably wont do anything but anyone near the crane would be justifiably pissed.

[-] obelix@lemmy.world 25 points 2 weeks ago

There's only one remedy for the Nazi disease.

[-] 58008@lemmy.world 17 points 2 weeks ago

Even after she went to bat for him and tried to shield him from hate online when she thought it was an innocent mistake, he still went ahead and said that. Yeah, real "piece of shit" move on her part, and a totally cool and normal move on his 😒

[-] Forsho@sh.itjust.works 17 points 2 weeks ago

At least that scum was honest, a filthy smelly worm but still honest.

Now imaging those hiding their hatred and prejudice pretending to be cute and open minded. in reality when the curtains are closed they elect trump but they never say it out in the open, they call ice on their neighbors after saying “good morning” to them earlier that day, they reject your job application for having an ethnic name but will tell you “have a good one” when you chat with them.

80 million individuals elected trump in 2024, let’s fake pretend that this is not the issue and act as if evil is just a minority.

[-] alapakala@quokk.au 19 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

He wasn't honest whatsoever. It was after she was robbed of her title, off the competition, and AFTER the footage came out that he confessed.
It was thanks to honest sports enthusiasts & fans we found out the truth. Public pressure ousted the PoS.

[-] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago

What a fucking loser thing to do

[-] atro_city@fedia.io 9 points 2 weeks ago

And this dude just gets banned while she isn't allowed to repeat the attempt despite it not being her fault. What the fuck?

[-] alapakala@quokk.au 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

This is going to demonstrate this sport is corrupt to hell.
Exact moment of sabotage.
French📰 cov.

[-] darkangelazuarl@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

This is going to demonstrate ~~this sport is~~ sports are corrupt to hell.

[-] alapakala@quokk.au 3 points 2 weeks ago

that's not a generalization I am going to do.

this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2026
285 points (100.0% liked)

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