Powerlifting is one of the Paralympic Movement’s fastest growing sports in terms of participants and is now practiced in nearly 100 countries.
The sport represents the ultimate test of upper body strength with athletes competing in the bench press discipline.
Competitors must lower the bar to their chest, hold it motionless on the chest and then press it upwards to arms-length with locked elbows. Athletes are given three attempts and the winner is the athlete who lifts the highest number of kilograms.
Such is the strength of athletes competing in this sport, that it is not uncommon to see a competitor lift more than three times their own body weight.
Male and female athletes compete in a bench press discipline divided into 10 weight categories.
Men compete in the 49kg, 54kg, 59kg, 65kg, 72kg, 80kg, 88kg, 97kg, 107kg and +107kg divisions
Women compete in the 41kg, 45kg, 50kg, 55kg, 61kg, 67kg, 73kg, 79kg, 86kg and +86kg divisions
Athletes are given three attempts and the winner is the athlete who lifts the highest number of kilograms.
Athletes compete lying on a bench that is 2.1 m long, 61 cm wide, and between 45 cm and 50 cm high. At its most narrow, towards the head, the bench is 30cm wide.
Hypertonia | Impaired Muscle Power |
Ataxia | Leg Length Difference |
Athetosis | Short Stature |
Limb Deficiency | Impaired Passive Range of Movement |
For illustrated explanation please click on the button below.
Powerlifting is open to athletes with one or multiple of the eight eligible physical impairments if these impairments have a certain severity that impacts on sport performance.
All athletes have an impairment in their lower limbs or hips, which would prohibit them to compete in able-bodied weightlifting. For example, athletes with a single or double amputation through or above the ankle or stiffness of the knee joint would be eligible to compete.
All eligible athletes compete in one ‘sport class’ but divided by gender and in different weight categories.
To be eligible to compete in Para powerlifting, the athlete’s eligible impairment must meet one or more of the following minimum impairment criteria (MIC).
Eligible impairment | Minimum impairment criteria |
Impaired muscle power | 20 points decrease in muscular strength in one or both lower limbs. The following movements are tested:
· Ankle dorsiflexion, plantarflexion · Ankle inversion, eversion · Knee flexion and extension · Hip flexion, extension, adduction and abduction |
Lower limb deficiency | Unilateral amputation as a minimum through the ankle joint with an absence of the calcaneous or a congenital limb deficiency at the same minimum level |
Leg length difference | A minimum of 7cm difference between the left and right leg. Measurements are to be taken from the anterior superior iliac spine to the tip of medial malleolus on the same side |
Short stature | Standing height must be less than or equal to:
· Male athletes: 145cm · Female athletes: 140cm |
Hypertonia | Hypertonia must be clearly detectable with a minimum of grade two on the Ashworth Scale in at least one lower limb |
Ataxia, Athetosis | Athletes must demonstrate an observable involvement in one or both the lower limbs. Ataxia or Athetosis must be observable during athlete evaluation and there must be obvious loss of function. |
Impaired passive range of movement | · Decrease of 60 degrees in hip flexion and extension or ankylosis of the hip, or
· Extension deficit of 30 degrees o0r ankylosis of the knee joint in any position, or · Severely reduced mobility of a permanent nature and/or as in scoliosis measuring over 60 degrees by the Cobb method. |
To be eligible to apply for a national classification, athletes must:
Athletes who do not meet the list of criteria above may still be evaluated by the classifiers by prior arrangement. However, he/she will only receive a provisional class in order to facilitate them to compete this year.
This list includes active athletes who have been classified at national and/or international level. Click here to access the Masterlist
The Irish Wheelchair Association is the National Governing Body for para powerlifting in Ireland. If you wish to get involved in para powerlifting, please access the National Governing Body link below.
Governing Body | |
National | Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) |
International | World Para Powerlifting (WPP) |
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