The International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) has been a leading force in the world of strength sports, honoring some of the strongest athletes since 1972. This year, for the first time ever, Lebanon and Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) were not only represented but also rose to the top, with alumnus Etienne El Chaer (BA ’23) winning the gold medal at the IPF World Classic Open Powerlifting Championship held in Chemnitz, Germany, in June 2025.
NDU students have never been short on ambition, especially in athletics. Like his fellow alumni—some of whom have held Guinness World Records or reached Olympic standards—Etienne built on his education and overcame many challenges to earn such an international distinction. Speaking about his motivation, Etienne shared that he had two main goals: to take on the senior world championship after winning the junior category, and to make his parents proud.
Etienne’s journey was physically demanding and, ultimately, mentally challenging. He suffered a major injury after deadlifting the heaviest deadlift in history: 412.5 kg. “It took me almost three to four months to get back to heavy lifting and achieve another PB (Personal Best), training from dawn to dusk until I traveled to Germany.” Eventually, his body began to fail him, and he was unable to deadlift for three consecutive weeks—only eight weeks be-fore the competition. “I broke my belt out of anger and wanted to stop the preparations, doubting everything I had worked for over the past year.”
Nonetheless, Etienne persevered, refocusing on his goals with the support of his professors and doctors at NDU. “I remember all the ups and downs with them, especially Dr. Nadim Nassif and Dr. Kaissar Keyrouz. All they did was be there for me and push me forward,” El Chaer shared.
To give back the support he received, Etienne hopes to educate younger generations about powerlifting and what it means to be an athlete. “The sports community in Lebanon is so small and underrated. I would talk about my career, emphasizing that sacrifice is essential for Lebanese athletes to succeed internationally.”
In a nutshell, Etienne succeeded because he is doing what he loves, and he “craves for more.” Driven by his passion to represent Lebanon’s exceptional talents and education, Etienne believes that consistent effort eventually pays off, despite internal and external obstacles. In the future, he plans to collaborate with NDU to inspire students, especially those in Physical Education, by showing them the reality of hard work and the beauty of achieving their dreams.