Powerlifting

About

• Background From Wikipedia with events, organisations and discussion of controversies.
• What is Powerlifting ? an introduction from the South African Power Lifting Association; the basics, drugs policy, referees and rules
• Powerlifting Defined Basics explained with information on weight classes and age divisions, relative strength measurement mechanisms and medals and awards.

History

• Hickock Sports Brief history of powerlifting
• American Powerlifting Evolution Detailed history of powerlifting through 1974
• John Victor(JV) Askem History The origins of powerlifting and women's earlyinvolvement in powerlifting.
• Michael Soong's All-Time Historical Records and Rankings Lists

Powerlifting Rules

Powerlifting is a strength sport which consists of three events: the squat, bench press and deadlift. Lifters have three attempts at each lift, which are performed in that order. The maximum weight lifted in each event is added together for a final total. Three judges rule on each attempt, with a majority decision needed for the lift to be passed. Some meets feature variations on these three lifts (eg. a bench press only meet or a bench press & deadlift meet). Lifters compete in age divisions and bodyweight classes.

Rule differences between Federations. These relate principally to:

- drug testing and the importance of testing for drugs

- equipment rules regarding the equipment a lifter may utilize like bench shirts, lifting suits, knee wraps, erector shirts, squat briefs and wrist wraps

• IPF Techican Rulebook Downloadable pdf documents; and interpretations. This isan excellent choice for the basic rules

Powerlifting Equipment

Originally the attire for powerlifting was similar to that for Olympic lifting. Lifters had the option of wearing a one piece lifting suit, called a singlet, or a two piece one made up of a tee shirt or tank top and a pair of shorts. Knee and wrist wraps were allowed in the form of ace bandages. Additionally, a belt no wider than 4" could be used. However, at the 1968 AAU Senior Nationals there was significant controversy over lifters wearing multiple layers of trunks and wraps to aid their lifts. Soon, special squatting and support shorts turned up that helped when lifting. In 1973, the National Weightlifting Committee banned these supportive suits and all other supportive lifting gear other than a belt. These rules continued until 1974 when the IPF came into existence. Gear use is currently widespread in powerlifting with more federations offering equipped lifting than unequipped. With the continued advancement of equipment, powerlifting gear use has become extremely controversial. Equipment can give the top lifters hundreds of pounds on their total. Some federations allow no gear to be worn by the lifter. Others allow single-ply polyester gear, as well as knee and wrist wraps. Yet other federations allow multi-ply gear in many variations.

• Bench Shirts An article from Critical Bench covering the most commonly asked questions about wearing bench shirts
• Squatting Equipment Personal equipment you can wear for the squat and reasons for wearing them

Powerlifting Organizations

The confusing number of organisations is unravelled in Powerlifting Watch and they are listed here for completeness. In the states, there are federations which offer any and all lifters' favorite type of lifting: drug free/raw, drug free/single-ply, drug free/multi-ply, raw, single ply, multi-ply, then there are slight variations and combinations of these. Throw in some egoism by federation founders and you have the situation powerlifting has today. The divide caused by the drug/drug free and equipped/raw issues in addition to federation head's egos prevents unification.

• Global Powerlifting Committee (GPC)
• International Powerlifting Federation (IPF)
• World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation (WDFPF)
• World Powerlifting Association (WPA)
• World Powerlifting Congress (WPC)
• World Powerlifting Organization (WPO)

Events

• WPC Worlds
• WPO Finals
• GPC World Championships
• APF Senior Nationals
• Powerlifting Meets Searchable meets database
• Powerlifting Watch Search for upcomingmeets

Servers-Blogs-Forums

• Go Heavy The oldest powerlifting forum on the Internet

Players

• Iron Game Lifters
• American Powelifting Evolution Early personalities

Play/Watch

Play/Watch