Powerlifting

Powerlifting is a strength-based competition. Competitors, categorised into weight groups, are given three attempts to bench press the bar. The winner is the one who successfully lifts the heaviest weight.

THE WEIGHT CATEGORIES

Powerlifting is open to all competitors, with men and women competing separately and across three bodyweight categories.

There are 3 categories each for women and men:

• IP1 women / IP4 men – lightweight
• IP2 women / IP5 men – midweight
• IP3 women / IP6 men – heavyweight

For amputees, a formula is used to determine additions to body weight.

THE LIFT

Competitors lay flat on their back on a specially designed bench for the entire lift and lift using the bench press technique.

For a lift to be successful, the competitor must lower the weight in a controlled manner, hold it motionless on the chest, then press the weight upwards evenly until their arms are straight (or ’locked’). They must be in complete control of the weight, with their body motionless.

Once the lift is complete (either successfully, or unsuccessfully) the Chief Referee will give the ‘rack’ command, at which point the lifter can replace the bar in the rack either with or without assistance from the loaders.

Once the bar has been replaced in the racks, the referees can announce their joint decision by means of white lights or flags for a ‘good lift’ and red lights or flags for a ‘no lift’.

Each lifter gets three lifts per competition and the bar must be loaded progressively. After completing an attempt, a lifter has 1 minute to indicate the weight required for their next attempt.

The winner is the lifter who has completed the heaviest successful lift after their three attempts.