From working holiday to world champion in just six years: Mitsunori Chiba

SBS Japanese

Chiba Mitsunori.jpg — Credit: Supplied/Mitsunori Chiba

Mitsunori Chiba's journey to the top of the bench press world began just six years ago, shortly after he arrived in Australia on a working holiday visa. This May, representing Australia at the IPF World Bench Press Championships in Poland, he won the M1 -83kg title and was named the competition's Overall Best Lifter.

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Published 3 September 2026 7:00pm

By Yumi Oba

Source: SBS

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Mitsunori Chiba's journey to the top of the bench press world began just six years ago, shortly after he arrived in Australia on a working holiday visa. This May, representing Australia at the IPF World Bench Press Championships in Poland, he won the M1 -83kg title and was named the competition's Overall Best Lifter.

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