12 Aug 2026 - Powerlifting

Every now and then, Parasport Support gives extra attention and explanation to a sport that can be done by people with a physical or visual disability. Today, the focus is on:

Para powerlifting.

INTRODUCTION

Para powerlifting is an adaptive bench press sport for athletes with physical impairments affecting their lower limbs or hips. The sport represents the ultimate test of upper body strength. Para Powerlifting is one of the five sports which is governed by the International Paralympic Committee. (Para athletics, Para ice hockey, Para swimming, Shooting para sport and Para powerlifting), and it features separate men's and women's events across 10 bodyweight categories, where competitors aim to lift the highest possible weight. 

HISTORY

Weightlifting made its Paralympic debut at the Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games, allowing only males with spinal cord injuries to compete. Powerlifting was introduced at the 1984 Stoke Mandeville & New York Games and ever since then it has been included in the Paralympic programme. The first Paralympic powerlifting competition took place in New York, USA and featured athletes from six countries. At the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games, weightlifting was removed from the Paralympic programme, while powerlifting remained.

The first World Para Powerlifting Championships were held in Uppsala, Sweden in 1994. At that time this event was known as the IPC Powerlifting World Championships but after 30 November 2016 it is now called the World Para Powerlifting Championships. The World Championships were held every four but since 2017 it is held every two years. The competitions are also part of the qualification process to compete at the Summer Paralympics.

RULES

Paralympic powerlifting differs from able-bodied powerlifting primarily because it features only one discipline, the bench press. The bench press requires athletes to lie completely flat with their legs placed or strapped on top of the bench rather than the floor, and strictly limits eligibility to athletes with lower-limb or hip impairments. Competitors must lower the bar to their chest, hold it motionless on the chest and then press it upwards to arms-length with locked elbows.

Athletes are given three attempts and the winner is the athlete who lifts the highest number of kilograms. Men compete in the 49kg, 54kg, 59kg, 65kg, 72kg, 80kg, 88kg, 97kg, 107kg and +107kg divisions, while women compete in the 41kg, 45kg, 50kg, 55kg, 61kg, 67kg, 73kg, 79kg, 86kg and +86kg divisions.

EVENTS

The Paralympic Games are the most important competition in which Para powerlifters can participate and take place once every four years. The World Championships are held every two years, and in addition, participants can take part in the annual World Cup and Grand Prix events. The next World Championships will take place in December 2027 in Mexico-City in Mexico. Para Powerlifting is also on the Paralympic program in Los Angeles 2028.

IN AUSTRALIA

Para powerlifting can be done in many places in Australia. On this website page you can find the locations in Australia where a bench is available. www.parapowerliftingaustralia.com.au/resources/access-a-para-powerlifting-bench-near-you

For more information about para powerlifting in Australia, go to www.parapowerliftingaustralia.com.au