Powerlifting is a strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. As in the sport of Olympic weightlifting, it involves the athlete attempting a maximal weight single-lift effort of a barbell loaded with weight plates. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as "odd lifts", which followed the same three-attempt format but used a wider variety of events, akin to strongman competition. Eventually, odd lifts became standardized to the current three.
In competition, lifts may be performed equipped or un-equipped (typically referred to as 'classic' or 'raw' lifting in the IPF specifically). Equipment in this context refers to a supportive bench shirt or squat/deadlift suit or briefs. In some federations, knee wraps are permitted in the equipped but not un-equipped division; in others, they may be used in both equipped and un-equipped lifting. Weightlifting belts, knee sleeves, wrist wraps, and special footwear may also be used, but are not considered when distinguishing equipped from un-equipped lifting.[1]
Competitions take place across the world. Powerlifting has been a Paralympic sport (bench press only) since 1984 and, under the IPF, is also a World Games sport. Local, national and international competitions have also been sanctioned by other federations operating independently of the IPF.
^"The Choice for Drug-free Strength Sport : USAPL Raw/Unequipped Standards". USA Powerlifting. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
company was now making powerlifting equipment to make up for the sales it had lost on Olympic equipment. In 1964, some powerlifting categories were added...
USPF Senior National Powerlifting Championships, 19-year-old Henry came second only to the legendary six-time World Powerlifting Champion Kirk Karwoski...
USA Powerlifting (USAPL) is a national powerlifting organization in the United States. The USAPL sanctions local, regional and national meets in the country...
Paralympic powerlifting, also known as para powerlifting and para-lifting, is an adaptation of the sport of powerlifting for athletes with disabilities...
of 7 deadlift world records across powerlifting, strongman and armlifting (sport of grip strength). Powerlifting: raw world record, equipped world record...
new powerlifting federation, the World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF), and became its president. He has stated he hopes to see powerlifting become...
5 kg (457.4 lb) (2016, Southern Powerlifting Federation standards). With the foundation of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), the federation...
Powerlifting USA is an American international magazine covering the sport of powerlifting. The print issue magazine was published from June 1977 until...
the 1970s and 1980s, he set numerous powerlifting and strongman world records, and won two International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Championships...
Sheffield Powerlifting Championships, setting the IPF world record for the highest raw total in sleeves and the highest raw total in sleeves in powerlifting history...
2024 - Para Powerlifting". Paris 2024. 25 March 2023. "World Para Powerlifting Qualification Pathway 2021-2024" (PDF). World Para Powerlifting. 25 March...
The International Powerlifting Federation is an international governing body for the sport of powerlifting as recognized by the General Association of...
the injury ended his competitive powerlifting career. "Open Powerlifting Profile: Wayne Howlett". Open Powerlifting. Retrieved 8 March 2020. "Tasmania...
is a 7 time USPF National Powerlifting Champion, a 6 time IPF World Powerlifting Champion and an IPF Junior World Powerlifting Champion. Kirk is widely...
The Powerlifting World Championships is the main international event for the powerlifting sport. These are conducted on behalf of the sport's governing...
competed in powerlifting just prior to the formation of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). In 1971, he became U.S. National Powerlifting Champion...
previously known as the Australian Powerlifting Union or APU, is the Australian national World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation affiliate. The APU was...
first powerlifting competition in 2015, and competed in bodybuilding in 2016. In 2018, Orhii qualified for the IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships...
first Global Powerlifting Federation (GPF) Junior World Championship at age 16. He went on to twice win the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF)...
British Open Powerlifting Championship 2012 - Two gold medals World Powerlifting Championship "TOI">"Mukesh Singh wins gold in World Powerlifting Championship"...
all time, Reinhoudt set over forty powerlifting records throughout his career and held all four of the powerlifting records in his day. His world record...
regarded throughout the powerlifting world as the greatest powerlifter of all time. Coan has set over 71 world records in powerlifting. In 2015, he was inducted...
European Powerlifting champion in 1980, and the Scandinavian Powerlifting champion in 1979. He competed twice at the IPF World Powerlifting Championships...
Global Information