Natalie Hanson managed a world record-breaking squat lift of 273.5kg in the women's under 84kg category at the IPF Open World Championships ©IPF/Facebook

Americans Natalie Hanson and Bonica Lough broke squat world records in the respective women’s under 84 kilograms and over 84kg categories on their way to victory at the International Powerlifting Federation Open World Championships in Pilsen in Czech Republic.

Hanson managed a lift of 273.5kg to help her register an overall world record of 671kg at the Parkhotel Congress Center.

She also posted 185kg in the bench press and 212.5kg in the deadlift.

Ukraine’s Yevheniia Tishakova finished second with a total of 642.5kg, while Norway’s Heidi Hille Arnesen came third with 610kg.

In the women’s over 84kg, Lough managed a world record-breaking squat lift of 312.5kg.

Added to her lifts of 210kg in the bench press and 227.5kg in the deadlift, it gave her a total of 750kg.

Kazakhstan’s Xeniya Okatenko was her closest challenger with 670kg.

Rounding out the top three was Chinese Taipei’s Chang Ya-Wen with 645kg.

There was also success today for Ukraine's Oleksiy Bychkov, who won the men's under 120kg event with a world record-breaking total of 1,127.5kg.

It was made up of 425kg in the squat, 337.5kg in the bench and 365kg in the deadlift.

Home favourite Tomas Sarik occupied the runners-up spot with 1,000kg, while the United States' Quintin Meyer completed the podium with 987.5kg.

Action in Pilsen is due to conclude tomorrow.