Powerlifting: Then and now

Powerlifting is one of the oldest Paralympic sports, with a history dating back to the Tokyo 1964 Games.

At that stage it was known as ‘Weightlifting’ and only involved competitors with spinal cord injuries doing what was considered as a ‘dead lift’ style press.

Modern Paralympic Powerlifting brings together athletes with a range of disabilities, with exacting and very strict competition similar to the able bodied version, but with athletes lying on their backs without feet on the floor.

How to play – and win

Paralympic Powerlifting is a benchpress competition – the ultimate test of upper body strength. Athletes must lower the bar to their chest, hold it motionless, and then press it upwards to arms length with locked elbows.

Each competitor has three attempts to lift as much weight as they can. Men and women compete in 10 different categories according to their bodyweight.

Powerlifting at the Games

After its initial introduction to the Games as ‘Weightlifting’ at Tokyo 1964, the sport undertook a major transition, expanding participation to include athletes with cerebral palsy, amputees and ‘les autres’ (‘the other’ disability groups).

Women made their Paralympic Games Powerlifting debut at Sydney 2000, and the sport has continued to grow at a rapid rate, with athletes from 115 countries now involved in international competition. The top ranked nations are Egypt and China.

Facts about Powerlifting

• There are currently more than 5,500 male and female lifters in the world ranking lists.
• Athletes compete lying on a bench that is 40 to 50cm off the ground.
• In Paralympic Powerlifting, competitors are classified by bodyweight alone. Athletes with different disabilities compete for the same medals.
• The top three reasons for having a lift disqualified are: not fully extending the arms; not lifting the bar in a single, smooth movement; or not holding the bar motionless on the chest.

Get involved

Powerlifting is one of the fastest growing sports for disabled athletes. Find out how and where to get started by contacting the British Disabilitiy Lifting Association (see 'related websites').