What is Para Powerlifting?

The ultimate upper body strength test. Like Weightlifting, Para Powerlifting requires strength, technical ability, and mental toughness.

Para Powerlifting is a singular discipline bench press competition, where athletes lay flat on a specially designed para powerlifting bench and then aim to lower a horizontally weighted bar from arms length, to the chest and return the bar under control to the same starting position.

The weighted bar is placed on two racks and the lifter must take the bar (usually assisted by loaders or their coach) until the lead referee commands ‘start’ (this occurs when the arms are fully extended and locked). The lifter must then lower it to his or her chest, hold it motionless - called a pause - and then press the bar upwards evenly to arms’ length where both arms should be locked out simultaneously until the lead referee issues the command ‘rack’. The lead referee and two side refs will then indicate a successful or unsuccessful lift by holding up white or red pads. A white pad indicating a 'good lift' and a red pad indicating a 'no lift'.

Para Powerlifting Competitions - Quick Guide

Competition format

There are three attempts permitted in a para powerlifting competition per athlete. Rounds 1, 2 and 3.
All athletes complete each round before moving to the next.
Lifters must increase the weight attempted by at least 1kg following a successful lift
A fourth lift may also be attempted for a potential record, but this does not count towards the final result of the competition.

Before Round 1

Opening attempts are declared at weigh-in.
One change to the opener is allowed (maximum 10kg up/down) until 5 minutes before the competition starts.
After this point, opening attempts are fixed.

Attempt changes

The next attempt must be submitted within 1 minute of the previous lift.
2nd attempt: once submitted, cannot be changed.
3rd attempt: up to two changes are permitted, subject to lifting order and before the athlete is called.
After a good lift, the weight must increase by at least 1kg.
After a no lift, the same weight can be repeated or increased.

Attempt clock

Athletes are allowed a maximum of two minutes between when their name is called for their turn to lift to receiving the Start command from the center referee.
Athletes must also leave the competition platform within 30 seconds of completing their lift.

Referee commands

START – begin the lift.
RACK – return the bar to the rack.
There is no referee Press command. The athlete’s coach may call “Press” once the bar has stopped on the chest.

The lift

Start → lower bar under control → stop on chest → press → lock both arms → Rack.

The athlete with the highest bench press in their gender and weight category is the winner. In the event of a tie in the best lifts in the same category, the winner is the athlete that weighed in the lightest and lifted the joint heaviest weight. If both athletes have an identical body weight, a reweigh is done.

Lifters compete across 10 different weight categories per gender. These are:

Women

up to 41kg,
up to 45kg,
up to 50kg,
up to 55kg,
up to 61kg,
up to 67kg,
up to 73kg,
up to 79kg,
up to 86kg,
and over 86kg.

Men

up to 49kg,
up to 54kg,
up to 59kg,
up to 65kg,
up to 72kg,
up to 80kg,
up to 88kg,
up to 97kg,
up to 107kg,
and over 107kg.

Watch below a video from the 2024 Paralympic Games that explains the top things to know about Para Powerlifting.

Para Powerlifting Classification

In order to safeguard the integrity of fair competition, all Para sports have a system in place which aims to ensure that winning is determined by the same factors that account for success for able bodied athletes. This system is called classification.

There is just the one paralympic sport classification in Para Powerlifting, as all eligible athletes compete together. Meaning those with different impairments compete for the same medals if they are the same gender and in the same weight category. The Bench Press is the single discipline of this sport, which is participated in by males and females who have one or more of the following eight eligible physical impairments or physical disabilities (please see Para-Powerlifting Rules for extensive list):

Impaired Muscle Power: Loss of strength in a hip, knee, ankle or foot that impacts on the ability to stand. Reduced force generated by muscles or muscle groups, such as muscles of one limb or the lower half of the body, as caused, for example, by spinal cord injuries, spina bifida or polio.
Impaired passive range of movement: Range of movement in one or more joints is reduced permanently, for example due to arthrogryposis. Hypermobility of joints, joint instability, and acute conditions, such as arthritis, are not considered eligible impairments.
Limb Loss or Deficiency Leg: Total or partial absence of bones or joints as a consequence of trauma, illness or congenital limb deficiency. For example, a single amputation above the ankle joint.
Leg length difference (minimum difference 7cm): Bone shortening in one leg due to congenital deficiency or trauma.
Short Stature (Less than 145cm Males, less than 140cm females): Reduced standing height due to abnormal dimensions of bones of upper and lower limbs or trunk, for example due to achondroplasia or growth hormone dysfunction.
Hypertonia: Abnormal increase in muscle tension and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch, due to a neurological condition, such as cerebral palsy, brain injury or multiple sclerosis.
Ataxia: Lack of co-ordination of muscle movements due to a neurological condition, such as cerebral palsy, brain injury or multiple sclerosis.
Athetosis: Generally characterised by unbalanced, involuntary movements and a difficulty in maintaining a symmetrical posture, due to a neurological condition, such as cerebral palsy, brain injury or multiple sclerosis.

Classification across the Paralympic Movement is governed by the IPC Athlete Classification Code and Standards. More information about Paralympic classification can be found on the IPC website. Link below:

IPC - Learn More