Powerlifting

Powerlifting

The deadlift being performed by 2009 IPF World Champion Dean Bowring
Highest governing body	International Powerlifting Federation
First played	1950s, United States of America
Characteristics
Contact	No
Mixed-sex	No
Type	Strength sport
Equipment	Barbells, weight plates, collars, chalk, heel-elevated shoes, barefoot shoes, belt, knee sleeves & wrist wraps
Presence
Country or region	Worldwide
Olympic	No
Paralympic	1984 – present
World Games	1981 – present (Equipped) 2025 – present (Raw)

Powerlifting is a competitive 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 unequipped (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 unequipped division; in others, they may be used in both equipped and unequipped lifting. Weightlifting belts, knee sleeves, wrist wraps, and special footwear may also be used, but are not considered when distinguishing equipped from unequipped 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.