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Powerlifting is a sport that consists of three attempts on three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. It was developed from a sport called odd lifts, which follows the same format but used a greater range of strength events.

There are various weight classes for men and women; 52kg, 56kg, 60kg, 67.5 kg, and 75 kg for men, 44kg, 48kg, 52kg, 56kg, 60kg, and 67.5 kg for women. The competition is also divided into age categories. For each weight class, the lifter with the highest total lifted weight wins. The total is the sum of the competitor's best valid attempt on each lift.

a powerlift

Powerlifting may be done with or without equipment, called raw lifting or classic lifting. The equipment refers to a bench shirt or a deadlift suit/briefs. In some competitions, in the equipped category, knee wraps are allowed, but in others it is used in both equipped and non-equipped. The competitiors equip themselves with weight belts, knee sleeves, wrist wraps, and special footwear.

As of the moment, powerlifting is not an Olympic sport, but it is included in the Paralympics. It is also one of the major sports at the World Games.

Powerlifting at the World Games

Powerlifting is practiced in different weight categories, where athletes compete against the force of iron and against other athletes. There are two Powerlifting disciplines at the World Games - Classic and Equipped.

Classic Powerlifting allows athletes to use an approved weight belt, singlet, and wrist wraps, along with chalk. It made its debut at the 2025 Chengdu World Games.

Equipped Powerlifting allows athletes to move massive amounts of weights using high-tech supportive gear, such as suits and knee wraps, to help their lifting and protect against injury.

The best of three attempts in each discipline count for the score total. This score total is multiplied by the Wilk Score (a body-weight factor) in finding the winner in each class.

Powerlifting made its debut at the 1981 Santa Clara World Games, with Equipped Powerlifting as the only discipline. Subsequently, it featured at the 1985 London World Games, the 1989 Karlsruhe World Games, 1993 The Hague World Games, the 1997 Lahti World Games, the 2001 Akita World Games, the 2005 Duisburg World Games, the 2009 Kaohsiung World Games, the 2013 Cali World Games, the 2017 Wroclaw World Games, the 2022 Birmingham World Games, and the 2025 Chengdu World Games. 

Here are the athletes who won gold at the 2025 Chengdu Powerlifting event:

Powerlifting Events

• Squat — participants attempt to perform a squat with the maximum weight on their shoulders.
• Bench Press — Participants lie on their back holding the weight on both hands, push it upwards, and then lower the weight again to the chest level
• Deadlift — participants lift a loaded barbell off the ground to the hips, and then lower it back to the ground

Related Sports

• Olympic Weightlifting — competitors attempt to lift weights mounted on barbells to above their heads.
• Kettlebell Lifting — a weight lifting sport performed with kettlebells, which are heavy weights that resemble a cannonball with a handle.
• Strongman — a sport that tests competitors' strength in a variety of different ways.
• Bodybuilding — participants show their developed muscular build through poses, and are judged based on muscularity, conditioning, and symmetry.

Related Pages

• About the Scottish Highland Games
• Power lifting at the Paralympic Games
• List of weight lifting sports
• Weightlifting at the Olympics
• Complete list of sports
• The Encyclopedia of Sports — a list of every sport from around the world.

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