# Paralympic powerlifting

Paralympic powerlifting, also known as para powerlifting and para-lifting, is an adaptation of the sport of powerlifting for athletes with disabilities. The only discipline in Paralympic powerlifting is the bench press. The sport is governed by the International Paralympic Committee (World Para Powerlifting) and is open to anyone with a minimum level of disability who can extend their arms within 20° of full extension during a lift. Powerlifting has been competed at the Summer Paralympics since 1984.

## History

* 1964-1984: Wheelchair Powerlifting
* 1984-2016: Paralympic Powerlifting / IPC Powerlifting
* 2017-Ongoing: Para Powerlifting

## Best and Total Medals

In 2022, WPPO initiated a new Total Lift Medal, the sum of all good lifts from the three attempts.
Before 2022 medal awarded only in Best lifts. Since 2022 medal awarded in best lifts and total lifts. The World Para-powerlifting 2022 Asia Oceania Open Championships was held in Pyeongtaek, Korea from 15 – 20 June, 2022. This was the first competition in history, in addition to the best lift, a total of three lifts were also awarded medals.
* 1964/1984 - 2021 : Only Best lifts have medals.
* 2022 - Ongoing: Best lifts and total lifts have medals.

## Ages

Source:
Before 2021 (2002-2021): Junior (U20) and Senior (+20)
Since 2022:
* Rookie (14-17)
* Next Gen (18-20)
* Elite (+20)
* Legends (+45)
Junior events was held first time in 2002 (or 2006) World Championships.

## Sex

* Only for Men Since 1964-1997.
* Women events since 1998 (First time in 1998 World Championship).
* Mixed Team Events was held first time in 2019.

## Weights
### 1984(1988)-2012

There were twenty powerlifting events, corresponding to ten weight classes each for men and women.
| Men's 48 kg Men's 52 kg Men's 56 kg Men's 60 kg Men's 67.5 kg Men's 75 kg Men's 82.5 kg Men's 90 kg Men's 100 kg Men's +100 kg | Women's 40 kg Women's 44 kg Women's 48 kg Women's 52 kg Women's 56 kg Women's 60 kg Women's 67.5 kg Women's 75 kg Women's 82.5 kg Women's +82.5 kg |

### 2013-2023

There are twenty powerlifting events, corresponding to ten weight classes each for men and women. The weight categories were significantly adjusted after the 2012 Games so most of the weights are new for 2016.
Powerlifting at the 2016 Summer Paralympics - Weight Divisions :
| Men | Men | Women | Women |
| 49 kg | 80 kg | 41 kg | 67 kg |
| 54 kg | 88 kg | 45 kg | 73 kg |
| 59 kg | 97 kg | 50 kg | 79 kg |
| 65 kg | 107 kg | 55 kg | 86 kg |
| 72 kg | +107 kg | 61 kg | +86 kg |

## Events

Events:

### Global

* Powerlifting at the Summer Paralympics since 1984.
* World Para Powerlifting Championships since 1994.
* World Para Powerlifting World Cup (WPPO World Cup) since 2015.
* Fazaa International Powerlifting Competition since 2009. (2013 not held)

### Regional

2013, 2015, 2018. (IPC Powerlifting Open ... Championships)
* World Para Powerlifting European Open Championships since 2013.
* World Para Powerlifting Asian Open Championships since 2013. (Asia-Oceania)
* World Para Powerlifting Americas Open Championships since 2015. (Pan American)
* World Para Powerlifting African Open Championships since 2015.
| Edition | Year | Host | Events |
| 1 | 2013 Asian | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 20 |
| 2 | 2013 European | Aleksin, Russia | 20 |
| 3 | 2015 Americas | Mexico City, Mexico | 20 |
| 4 | 2015 Asian | Almaty, Kazakhstan | 20 |
| 5 | 2015 European | Eger, Hungary | 20 |
| 6 | 2015 African | Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo | 20 |
| 7 | 2018 European | Berck, France | 20 |
| 8 | 2018 African | Algiers, Algeria | 20 |
| 9 | 2018 Asian | Kitakyushu, Japan | 20 |
| 10 | 2018 Americas | Bogota, Colombia | 20 |

### World Cup

up to 2016: IPC Powerlifting World Cup
* 2011 Mexican Powerlifting Competition
* 2011 Polish Cup Powerlifting-Bydgoszcz
* 2011 International Powerlifting Competition in Amman
* 2011 3rd Powerlifting Khorfakkan International Competition
* 2011 8th China National Games for the Disable
* 2011 International Powerlifting Competition in Hungary
* IWAS World Games 2011, 2021
* 2011 Malaysia Open Powerlifting Championships
* 2013 Open Misr Cup Powerlifting Championships
* Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
| Edition | Year | Host | Events |
| - | 2009 (1st FAZZA) | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 20 |
| - | 2010 (2nd FAZZA) | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 20 |
| - | 2011 (3rd FAZZA) | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 20 |
| - | 2012 (4th FAZZA) | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 20 |
| - | 2014 (5th FAZZA) | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 20 |
| 1 | 2015 (6th FAZZA) | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 20 |
| 2 | 2016 | Rio, Brazil | 20 |
| 3 | 2016 (7th FAZZA) | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 20 |
| 4 | 2016 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 20 |
| 5 | 2017 | Eger, Hungary | 20 |
| 6 | 2017 (8th FAZZA) | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 20 |
| 7 | 2018 (9th FAZZA) | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 20 |
| 8 | 2019 (10th FAZZA) | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 20 |
| 9 | 2019 | Eger, Hungary | 20 |
| 10 | 2019 | Lima, Peru | 20 |
| 11 | 2019 | Tokyo, Japan | 20 |
| 12 | 2020 | Abuja, Nigeria | 20 |
| 13 | 2020 | Manchester, United Kingdom | 20 |
| 14 | 2021 | Bogota, Colombia | 20 |
| 15 | 2021 | Manchester, United Kingdom | 20 |
| 16 | 2021 | Bangkok, Thailand | 20 |
| 17 | 2021 | Tbilisi, Georgia | 20 |
| 18 | 2021 (11th FAZZA) | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 20 |

## World records

World records in Paralympic powerlifting are ratified by the International Paralympic Committee.

### Elite
#### Men

| Category | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Meet | Place |
| –49 kg | 183.5 kg | Lê Văn Công | Vietnam | 4 December 2017 | World Championships | Mexico City, Mexico |
| –54 kg | 205 kg | Sherif Othman | Egypt | 6 April 2014 | World Championships | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| –59 kg | 211 kg | Sherif Othman | Egypt | 9 September 2016 | Paralympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| –65 kg | 222 kg | Zou Yi | China | 24 October 2023 | Asian Para Games | Hangzhou, China |
| –72 kg | 232 kg | Bonnie Bunyau Gustin | Malaysia | 6 September 2024 | Paralympic Games | Paris, France |
| –80 kg | 242 kg | Rouhollah Rostami | Iran | 6 September 2024 | Paralympic Games | Paris, France |
| –88 kg | 251 kg | Abdelkareem Khattab | Jordan | 29 August 2023 | World Championships | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| –97 kg | 260 kg | Abdelkareem Khattab | Jordan | 7 September 2024 | Paralympic Games | Paris, France |
| –107 kg | 254 kg | Aliakbar Gharibshahi | Iran | 17 December 2022 | World Cup | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| +107 kg | 310 kg | Siamand Rahman | Iran | 14 September 2016 | Paralympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |

#### Women

| Category | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Meet | Place |
| –41 kg | 123 kg | Guo Lingling | China | 23 October 2023 | Asian Para Games | Hangzhou, China |
| –45 kg | 123 kg | Guo Lingling | China | 4 September 2024 | Paralympic Games | Paris, France |
| –50 kg | 131 kg | Esther Oyema | Nigeria | 10 April 2018 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia |
| –55 kg | 135 kg | Rehab Ahmed | Egypt | 22 June 2024 | World Cup | Tbilisi, Georgia |
| –61 kg | 150 kg | Onyinyechi Mark | Nigeria | 6 September 2024 | Paralympic Games | Paris, France |
| –67 kg | 142 kg | Tan Yujiao | China | 6 September 2024 | Paralympic Games | Paris, France |
| –73 kg | 151 kg | Kafila Almaruf | Nigeria | 26 August 2023 | World Championships | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| –79 kg | 154 kg | Han Miaoyu | China | 7 September 2024 | Paralympic Games | Paris, France |
| –86 kg | 159 kg | Zheng Feifei | China | 25 June 2024 | World Cup | Tbilisi, Georgia |
| +86 kg | 167 kg | Folashade Oluwafemiayo | Nigeria | 8 September 2024 | Paralympic Games | Paris, France |

### Next Gen
#### Men

| Category | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Meet | Place |
| –49 kg | 161 kg | Muslim Al-Sudani | Iraq | 27 October 2022 | African Open Championships | Cairo, Egypt |
| –54 kg | 149 kg | Marco Tulio Cruz | Brazil | 9 June 2023 | Youth Parapan American Games | Bogotá, Colombia |
| –59 kg | 188 kg | Qi Yongkai | China | 9 September 2018 | Asia-Oceania Open Championships | Kitakyushu, Japan |
| –65 kg | 204 kg | Bonnie Bunyau Gustin | Malaysia | 9 October 2018 | Asian Para Games | Jakarta, Indonesia |
| –72 kg | 179 kg | Donato Telesca | Italy | 26 April 2019 | World Cup | Eger, Hungary |
| –80 kg | 170 kg | Islam Mohamed | Egypt | 28 October 2022 | African Open Championships | Cairo, Egypt |
| –88 kg | 163 kg | Andrey Samovik | Russia | 26 November 2015 | European Open Championships | Eger, Hungary |
| –97 kg | 193 kg | Matheus de Assis Silva | Brazil | 7 December 2017 | World Championships | Mexico City, Mexico |
| –107 kg | 180 kg | Faruk Öztürk | Turkey | 2 December 2017 | World Junior Championships | Mexico City, Mexico |
| +107 kg | 184 kg | JaQue Billingsley | United States | 6 August 2014 | IWAS World Junior Games | Aylesbury, United Kingdom |

#### Women

| Category | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Meet | Place |
| –41 kg | 114 kg | Esther Nworgu | Nigeria | 28 October 2022 | African Open Championships | Cairo, Egypt |
| –45 kg | 100 kg | Loveth Abokin | Nigeria | 5 February 2020 | World Cup | Abuja, Nigeria |
| –50 kg | 108 kg | Olivia Broome | Great Britain | 27 November 2021 | World Junior Championships | Tbilisi, Georgia |
| –55 kg | 127 kg | Onyinyechi Mark | Nigeria | 5 February 2020 | World Cup | Abuja, Nigeria |
| –61 kg | 116 kg | Fatma Korany | Egypt | 5 February 2020 | World Cup | Abuja, Nigeria |
| –67 kg | 116 kg | Mariana D'Andrea | Brazil | 7 December 2018 | Americas Open Championships | Bogotá, Colombia |
| –73 kg | 100 kg | Britney Arendse | Ireland | 27 April 2019 | World Cup | Eger, Hungary |
| –79 kg | 108 kg | Marion Serrano | Chile | 17 July 2019 | World Championships | Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan |
| –86 kg | 102 kg | Alina Kumeyko | Ukraine | 2 December 2017 | World Championships | Mexico City, Mexico |
| +86 kg | 100 kg | Elsa Dewi Saputri | Indonesia | 7 December 2023 | World Cup | Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand |

### Rookie
#### Men

| Category | Record | Athlete |
| –49 kg | 113 kg | Standard |
| –54 kg | 120 kg | Standard |
| –59 kg | 126 kg | Standard |
| –65 kg | 128 kg | Standard |
| –72 kg | 148 kg | Standard |
| –80 kg | 156 kg | Standard |
| –88 kg | 154 kg | Standard |
| –97 kg | 153 kg | Standard |
| –107 kg | 159 kg | Standard |
| +107 kg | 165 kg | Standard |

#### Women

| Category | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Meet | Place |
| –41 kg | 70 kg | Standard | | | | |
| –45 kg | 77 kg | Aigerim Aidarkyzy | Kazakhstan | 8 May 2024 | World Cup | Pattaya, Thailand |
| –50 kg | 78 kg | Standard | | | | |
| –55 kg | 102 kg | Rukhshona Uktamova | Uzbekistan | 5 March 2024 | World Cup | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| –61 kg | 114 kg | Rukhshona Uktamova | Uzbekistan | 6 September 2024 | Paralympic Games | Paris, France |
| –67 kg | 86 kg | Standard | | | | |
| –73 kg | | Standard | | | | |
| –79 kg | 92 kg | Standard | | | | |
| –86 kg | | Standard | | | | |
| +86 kg | 102 kg | Standard | | | | |

### Legend
#### Men

| Category | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Meet | Place |
| –49 kg | 167 kg | Zheng Yu | China | 23 August 2023 | World Championships | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| –54 kg | 178 kg | Roland Ezuruike | Nigeria | 27 August 2023 | World Championships | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| –59 kg | 165 kg | Standard | | | | |
| –65 kg | 168 kg | Standard | | | | |
| –72 kg | 194 kg | Shaaban Ibrahim | Egypt | 24 August 2023 | World Championships | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| –80 kg | 204 kg | Standard | | | | |
| –88 kg | 225 kg | Mohamed Elelfat | Egypt | 23 June 2024 | World Cup | Tbilisi, Georgia |
| –97 kg | 230 kg | Fabio Torres | Colombia | 10 July 2022 | Parapan American Open Championships | St. Louis, United States |
| –107 kg | 231 kg | Bobby Body | United States | 25 May 2024 | Parapan American World Cup | Acapulco, Mexico |
| +107 kg | 240 kg | Faris Al-Ageeli | Iraq | 2 March 2024 | World Cup | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |

#### Women

| Category | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Meet | Place |
| –41 kg | 92 kg | Standard | | | | |
| –45 kg | 102 kg | Nazmiye Muslu Muratlı | Turkey | 29 February 2024 | World Cup | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| –50 kg | 112 kg | Nazmiye Muslu Muratlı | Turkey | 21 June 2024 | World Cup | Tbilisi, Georgia |
| –55 kg | 113 kg | Standard | | | | |
| –61 kg | 132 kg | Amalia Pérez | Mexico | 8 July 2022 | Parapan American Open Championships | St. Louis, United States |
| –67 kg | 132 kg | Amalia Pérez | Mexico | 23 June 2024 | World Cup | Tbilisi, Georgia |
| –73 kg | 121 kg | Raushan Koishibayeva | Kazakhstan | 24 June 2024 | World Cup | Tbilisi, Georgia |
| –79 kg | 121 kg | Amal Mahmoud Osman | Egypt | 23 March 2024 | World Cup | Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt |
| –86 kg | 134 kg | Tharwh Al-Hajaj | Jordan | 17 December 2022 | World Cup | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| +86 kg | 142 kg | Nadia Ali | Egypt | 29 October 2022 | African Open Championships | Cairo, Egypt |