10 Facts About Powerlifting

1.

Powerlifting is a strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift.

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2.

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.

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3.

Powerlifting has been a Paralympic sport since 1984 and, under the IPF, is a World Games sport.

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4.

International Powerlifting Federation was formed immediately after the contest and so none of the lifts could be yet registered as official world records.

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5.

In 1981, the American Drug Free Powerlifting Association, led by Brother Bennett, became the first federation to break away from the USPF, citing the need to implement effective drug testing in the sport.

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6.

The Revolution Powerlifting Syndicate, founded by Gene Rychlak in 2011, might be considered a move towards greater unity, as the RPS breaks the tradition of charging lifters membership fees to a specific federation in addition to entry fees for each competition.

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7.

In 2019, USA Powerlifting drew controversy when it deviated from internationally harmonized practices to impose a total ban on all female transgender athletes as well as all male transgender athletes undergoing hormone replacement therapy.

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8.

Powerlifting published a 'Transgender Participation Policy' based on a paper published by Kris Hunt, an emergency physician from St Vincent's Emergency Hospital, Indianapolis with no qualifications as a sports endocrinologist.

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9.

In November 2021, USA Powerlifting was expelled from the International Powerlifting Federation over some of its policies.

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10.

In January 2019, USA Powerlifting updated their policy to exclude transgender participation, in accordance with IOC guidelines.

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