Paralympic powerlifting explained

Paralympic powerlifting, also known as para powerlifting and para-lifting, is an adaptation of the sport of powerlifting for athletes with disabilities. The only discipline in Paralympic powerlifting is the bench press. The sport is governed by the International Paralympic Committee (World Para Powerlifting) and is open to anyone with a minimum level of disability who can extend their arms within 20° of full extension during a lift. Powerlifting has been competed at the Summer Paralympics since 1984.^[1]

History

1. 1964-1984: Wheelchair Powerlifting
2. 1984-2016: Paralympic Powerlifting / IPC Powerlifting
3. 2017-Ongoing: Para Powerlifting

Best and Total Medals

In 2022, WPPO initiated a new Total Lift Medal, the sum of all good lifts from the three attempts.^[2]

Before 2022 medal awarded only in Best lifts. Since 2022 medal awarded in best lifts and total lifts. The World Para-powerlifting 2022 Asia Oceania Open Championships was held in Pyeongtaek, Korea from 15 – 20 June, 2022. This was the first competition in history, in addition to the best lift, a total of three lifts were also awarded medals.^[3]

1. 1964/1984 - 2021 : Only Best lifts have medals.
2. 2022 - Ongoing: Best lifts and total lifts have medals.

Ages

Source:^[4]

Before 2021 (2002-2021): Junior (U20) and Senior (+20)

Since 2022:

1. Rookie (14-17)
2. Next Gen (18-20)
3. Elite (+20)
4. Legends (+45)

Junior events was held first time in 2002 (or 2006) World Championships.

Sex

1. Only for Men Since 1964-1997.
2. Women events since 1998 (First time in 1998 World Championship).
3. Mixed Team Events was held first time in 2019.

Weights

1984(1988)-2012

There were twenty powerlifting events, corresponding to ten weight classes each for men and women.

Men's 48 kg Men's 52 kg Men's 56 kg Men's 60 kg Men's 67.5 kg Men's 75 kg Men's 82.5 kg Men's 90 kg Men's 100 kg Men's +100 kg

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Women's 40 kg Women's 44 kg Women's 48 kg Women's 52 kg Women's 56 kg Women's 60 kg Women's 67.5 kg Women's 75 kg Women's 82.5 kg Women's +82.5 kg

2013-2023

There are twenty powerlifting events, corresponding to ten weight classes each for men and women. The weight categories were significantly adjusted after the 2012 Games so most of the weights are new for 2016.

Men		Women
49 kg	80 kg	41 kg	67 kg
54 kg	88 kg	45 kg	73 kg
59 kg	97 kg	50 kg	79 kg
65 kg	107 kg	55 kg	86 kg
72 kg	+107 kg	61 kg	+86 kg

Events

Events:^{[5] [6] [7] [8] [9]}

Global

• Powerlifting at the Summer Paralympics since 1984.
• World Para Powerlifting Championships since 1994.
• World Para Powerlifting World Cup (WPPO World Cup) since 2015.
• Fazaa International Powerlifting Competition since 2009. (2013 not held)
  • • IPC Powerlifting World Championships - 2010 IPC Powerlifting World Championships - 2014 World Para Powerlifting Championships - 2017
• World Para Powerlifting Championships - 2019
• World Para Powerlifting Championships - 2021

Regional

2013, 2015, 2018. (IPC Powerlifting Open ... Championships)

• World Para Powerlifting European Open Championships since 2013.
• World Para Powerlifting Asian Open Championships since 2013. (Asia-Oceania)
• World Para Powerlifting Americas Open Championships since 2015. (Pan American)
• World Para Powerlifting African Open Championships since 2015.

Edition	Year	Host	Events	Athletes
1	2013 Asian	Kuala Lumpur,	20
2	2013 European	Aleksin,	20
3	2015 Americas	Mexico City,	20
4	2015 Asian	Almaty,	20
5	2015 European	Eger,	20
6	2015 African	Brazzaville,	20
7	2018 European	Berck,	20
8	2018 African	Algiers,	20
9	2018 Asian	Kitakyushu,	20
10	2018 Americas	Bogota,	20

World Cup

up to 2016: IPC Powerlifting World Cup

• 2011 Mexican Powerlifting Competition
• 2011 Polish Cup Powerlifting-Bydgoszcz
• 2011 International Powerlifting Competition in Amman
• 2011 3rd Powerlifting Khorfakkan International Competition
• 2011 8th China National Games for the Disable
• 2011 International Powerlifting Competition in Hungary
• IWAS World Games 2011, 2021
• 2011 Malaysia Open Powerlifting Championships
• 2013 Open Misr Cup Powerlifting Championships
• Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

Edition	Year	Host	Events	Athletes
align=center	-	2009 (1st FAZZA)	Dubai,	20
align=center	-	2010 (2nd FAZZA)	Dubai,	20
align=center	-	2011 (3rd FAZZA)	Dubai,	20
align=center	-	2012 (4th FAZZA)	Dubai,	20
align=center	-	2014 (5th FAZZA)	Dubai,	20
1	2015 (6th FAZZA)	Dubai,	20
2	2016	Rio,	20
3	2016 (7th FAZZA)	Dubai,	20
4	2016	Kuala Lumpur,	20
5	2017	Eger,	20
6	2017 (8th FAZZA)	Dubai,	20
7	2018 (9th FAZZA)	Dubai,	20
8	2019 (10th FAZZA)	Dubai,	20
9	2019	Eger,	20
10	2019	Lima,	20
11	2019	Tokyo,	20
12	2020	Abuja,	20
13	2020	Manchester,	20
14	2021	Bogota,	20
15	2021	Manchester,	20
16	2021	Bangkok,	20
17	2021	Tbilisi,	20
18	2021 (11th FAZZA)	Dubai,	20

World records

World records in Paralympic powerlifting are ratified by the International Paralympic Committee.

Elite

Men

Category	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Meet	Place	Ref
–49 kg	183.5 kg			4 December 2017		Mexico City, Mexico	[10]
–54 kg	205 kg			6 April 2014		Dubai, United Arab Emirates	[11]
–59 kg	211 kg			9 September 2016		Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	[12]
–65 kg	222 kg			24 October 2023	Asian Para Games	Hangzhou, China	[13]
–72 kg	232 kg			6 September 2024		Paris, France	[14]
–80 kg	242 kg			6 September 2024		Paris, France	[15]
–88 kg	251 kg			29 August 2023		Dubai, United Arab Emirates	[16]
–97 kg	260 kg			7 September 2024		Paris, France	[17]
–107 kg	254 kg			17 December 2022	World Cup	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	[18]
+107 kg	310 kg			14 September 2016		Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	[19]

Women

Category	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Meet	Place	Ref
–41 kg	123 kg			23 October 2023		Hangzhou, China
–45 kg	123 kg			4 September 2024		Paris, France	[20]
–50 kg	131 kg			10 April 2018		Gold Coast, Australia	[21]
–55 kg	135 kg			22 June 2024	World Cup	Tbilisi, Georgia	[22]
–61 kg	150 kg			6 September 2024		Paris, France	[23]
–67 kg	142 kg			6 September 2024		Paris, France	[24]
–73 kg	151 kg			26 August 2023		Dubai, United Arab Emirates
–79 kg	154 kg			7 September 2024		Paris, France	[25]
–86 kg	159 kg			25 June 2024	World Cup	Tbilisi, Georgia
+86 kg	167 kg			8 September 2024		Paris, France	[26]

Next Gen

Men

Category	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Meet	Place	Ref
–49 kg	161 kg			27 October 2022	African Open Championships	Cairo, Egypt	[27]
–54 kg	149 kg			9 June 2023	Youth Parapan American Games	Bogotá, Colombia
–59 kg	188 kg			9 September 2018	Asia-Oceania Open Championships	Kitakyushu, Japan	[28]
–65 kg	204 kg			9 October 2018		Jakarta, Indonesia	[29]
–72 kg	179 kg			26 April 2019	World Cup	Eger, Hungary	[30]
–80 kg	170 kg			28 October 2022	African Open Championships	Cairo, Egypt
–88 kg	163 kg			26 November 2015	European Open Championships	Eger, Hungary
–97 kg	193 kg			7 December 2017		Mexico City, Mexico	[31]
–107 kg	180 kg			2 December 2017	World Junior Championships	Mexico City, Mexico	[32]
+107 kg	184 kg			6 August 2014	IWAS World Junior Games	Aylesbury, United Kingdom

Women

Category	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Meet	Place	Ref
–41 kg	114 kg			28 October 2022	African Open Championships	Cairo, Egypt
–45 kg	100 kg			5 February 2020	World Cup	Abuja, Nigeria	[33]
–50 kg	108 kg			27 November 2021		Tbilisi, Georgia	[34]
–55 kg	127 kg			5 February 2020	World Cup	Abuja, Nigeria
–61 kg	116 kg			5 February 2020	World Cup	Abuja, Nigeria
–67 kg	116 kg			7 December 2018	Americas Open Championships	Bogotá, Colombia	[35]
–73 kg	100 kg			27 April 2019	World Cup	Eger, Hungary
–79 kg	108 kg			17 July 2019		Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan	[36]
–86 kg	102 kg			2 December 2017		Mexico City, Mexico
+86 kg	100 kg			7 December 2023	World Cup	Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Rookie

Men

Category	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Meet	Place	Ref
–49 kg	113 kg	Standard
–54 kg	120 kg	Standard
–59 kg	126 kg	Standard
–65 kg	128 kg	Standard
–72 kg	148 kg	Standard
–80 kg	156 kg	Standard
–88 kg	154 kg	Standard
–97 kg	153 kg	Standard
–107 kg	159 kg	Standard
+107 kg	165 kg	Standard

Women

Category	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Meet	Place	Ref
–41 kg	70 kg	Standard
–45 kg	77 kg			8 May 2024	World Cup	Pattaya, Thailand
–50 kg	78 kg	Standard
–55 kg	102 kg			5 March 2024	World Cup	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	[37]
–61 kg	114 kg			6 September 2024	Paralympic Games	Paris, France
–67 kg	86 kg	Standard
–73 kg		Standard
–79 kg	92 kg	Standard
–86 kg		Standard
+86 kg	102 kg	Standard

Legend

Men

Category	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Meet	Place	Ref
–49 kg	167 kg			23 August 2023		Dubai, United Arab Emirates
–54 kg	178 kg			27 August 2023		Dubai, United Arab Emirates
–59 kg	165 kg	Standard
–65 kg	168 kg	Standard
–72 kg	194 kg			24 August 2023		Dubai, United Arab Emirates
–80 kg	204 kg	Standard
–88 kg	225 kg			23 June 2024	World Cup	Tbilisi, Georgia
–97 kg	230 kg			10 July 2022	Parapan American Open Championships	St. Louis, United States	[38]
–107 kg	231 kg			25 May 2024	Parapan American World Cup	Acapulco, Mexico
+107 kg	240 kg			2 March 2024	World Cup	Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Women

Category	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Meet	Place	Ref
–41 kg	92 kg	Standard
–45 kg	102 kg			29 February 2024	World Cup	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
–50 kg	112 kg			21 June 2024	World Cup	Tbilisi, Georgia
–55 kg	113 kg	Standard
–61 kg	132 kg			8 July 2022	Parapan American Open Championships	St. Louis, United States
–67 kg	132 kg			23 June 2024	World Cup	Tbilisi, Georgia
–73 kg	121 kg			24 June 2024	World Cup	Tbilisi, Georgia
–79 kg	121 kg			23 March 2024	World Cup	Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
–86 kg	134 kg			17 December 2022	World Cup	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
+86 kg	142 kg			29 October 2022	African Open Championships	Cairo, Egypt

See also

• List of Olympic records in weightlifting
• List of world records in Olympic weightlifting
• List of junior world records in Olympic weightlifting
• List of youth world records in Olympic weightlifting
• Progression of the bench press world record
• NFL Scouting Combine Bench press records
• Squat world records
• World record progression women's weightlifting
• World record progression women's weightlifting (1998–2018)
• World record progression men's weightlifting
• World record progression men's weightlifting (1998–2018)

External links

• World Para Powerlifting
• World Records
• Weightlifting Platform
• https://www.paralympic.org/powerlifting
• https://www.paralympic.org/powerlifting/results
• https://www.paralympic.org/powerlifting/live-results

See also

• Powerlifting at the Summer Paralympics

Notes and References

1. Web site: About the sport . 2009 . . 8 January 2009.
2. https://moveunitedsport.org/app/uploads/2023/02/2023-Move-United-Para-Powerlifting-Rules.pdf
3. Web site: Pyeongtaek 2022: Paralympic and world champions return for more glory .
4. https://moveunitedsport.org/app/uploads/2023/02/2023-Move-United-Para-Powerlifting-Rules.pdf
5. Web site: Paralympic Events - Search for Para Sport Competitions.
6. Web site: Para Powerlifting Results (Formerly IPC Powerlifting).
7. Web site: Para Powerlifting (Formerly IPC Powerlifting) News & Events.
8. Web site: Para Powerlifting Schedule of Events & Competitions.
9. Web site: World Para Powerlifting Qualification Pathway 2017-2020: Appendix 1 (January 2018). https://web.archive.org/web/20190630174032/https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/document/180725160956008_Appendix+1+-+WPPO+Qualification+Pathway+2017-2020.pdf. live. 2019-06-30.
10. Web site: Powerlifting – Men's up to 49kg – Results. IPC. 4 December 2017. 18 April 2018.
11. Web site: 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships – Official Results Book. IPC. 11 April 2014. 18 April 2018.
12. Web site: Powerlifting – Men's -59 kg – Final Results. IPC. 9 September 2016. 18 April 2018.
13. Web site: The 4th Asian Para Games – Powerlifting – Results Book. IPC. 3 September 2024.
14. Web site: Para Powerlifting – Men's up to 72kg – Final Results. paralympic.com. COJOP. 6 September 2024. 6 September 2024.
15. Web site: Para Powerlifting – Men's up to 80kg – Final Results. paralympic.com. COJOP. 6 September 2024. 6 September 2024.
16. Web site: 2023 Elite & Legends World Championships – Official Results Book. IPC. 2 October 2023.
17. Web site: Para Powerlifting – Men's up to 97kg – Final Results. paralympic.com. COJOP. 7 September 2024. 7 September 2024.
18. Web site: Fazza 12th Para Powerlifting World Cup – Dubai (UAE) – Official Results Book. IPC. 26 December 2022.
19. Web site: Powerlifting – Men's +107 kg – Final Results. IPC. 14 September 2016. 18 April 2018.
20. Web site: Para Powerlifting – Women's up to 45kg – Final Results. paralympic.com. COJOP. 4 September 2024. 5 September 2024.
21. Web site: Powerlifting – Women's Lightweight – Final Results. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation. 10 April 2018. 18 April 2018.
22. Web site: Tbilisi 2024 ParaPowerlifting World Cup – Official Results Book. IPC. 3 September 2024.
23. Web site: Para Powerlifting – Women's up to 61kg – Final Results. paralympic.com. COJOP. 6 September 2024. 6 September 2024.
24. Web site: Para Powerlifting – Women's up to 67kg – Final Results. paralympic.com. COJOP. 6 September 2024. 6 September 2024.
25. Web site: Para Powerlifting – Women's up to 79kg – Final Results. paralympic.com. COJOP. 7 September 2024. 7 September 2024.
26. Web site: Para Powerlifting – Women's over 86kg – Final Results. paralympic.com. COJOP. 8 September 2024. 8 September 2024.
27. Web site: African Open Championships – Cairo (EGY) – Official Results Book . 26 December 2022 . IPC.
28. Web site: Powerlifting – Men's up to 59 kg – Results. IPC. 9 September 2018. 10 October 2018.
29. Web site: Para Powerlifting – Men's up to 65.00 kg – Results. gms.asianparagames2018.id. 24 November 2018.
30. Web site: 2019 Eger World Para Powerlifting World Cup – Official Results Book. IPC. 7 May 2019.
31. Web site: Powerlifting – Men's up to 97 kg – Results. IPC. 7 December 2017. 4 July 2018.
32. Web site: Powerlifting – Men's up to 107 kg – Results. IPC. 2 December 2017. 4 July 2018.
33. Web site: 2020 Abuja WPPO World Cup – Official results book . 13 March 2020 . IPC.
34. Web site: Tbilisi 2021 World Junior Championships – Official Results Book . 10 May 2022 . IPC.
35. Web site: Women's up to 67 kg – Results. IPC. 7 December 2018. 19 December 2018.
36. Web site: World Para Powerlifting Championships 2019 – Women's up to 79 kg – Results. IPC. 17 July 2019. 1 October 2021.
37. Web site: 13th Fazza 2024 Para Powerlifting World Cup – Official Results Book. IPC. 3 September 2024.
38. Web site: Parapan American Open Championships – St. Louis (USA) – Official Results Book. IPC. 26 December 2022.