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PowerliftingPowerlifting is a strength sport, consisting of three events: squat, bench press, and deadlift. The maximum weight lifted in each event is totalled for a final score; lifters compete in bodyweight classes. Powerlifting is of relatively modern origin, dating from the early to mid 20th century onwards, and is sometimes referred to as "weightlifting's ugly sister".
Powerlifting is open to both men and women.
Existing Olympic weightlifting events such as the Snatch and the Clean and jerk rely on speed strength as well as technique, with a view to lifting the most weight overhead. Powerlifting relies on limit strength, utilising the entire body to push, pull, and support as much weight as is humanly possible for the athlete to move.
- In the squat, the athlete stands under a racked barbell which is loaded with weight. Grabbing the bar from behind, the bar is put onto the top of the back just behind the neck. The athlete walks clear of the rack (unless competing in a federation using a "monolift", a device which supports the bar in place until the lifter is ready), squats down until thighs are lower than parallel to the floor and stands up again, carefully returning the weight to the rack. Disqualification results from the bar making any downward movement after the lift has started upwards, if the spotters touch the bar in any way, if the thighs do not break parallel, or if the lifter makes no effort to rerack the weight under his or her own power.
- In the bench press, the athlete lies on a bench. A loaded barbell rests on stands built into the bench above the eye level of the lifter when lying prone on the bench. The athlete removes the bar from the supports with the aid of a "liftoff man", lowers it to the chest or upper abdomen and then presses it up to the full extention of the arms and carefully returns the weight to the rack. Disqualification results if the bar is placed too low on the body (varies by federation), if the bar does not rest on the chest before being lifted upward (in some federations, an explicit "press" command is given, and the athlete cannot lift upwards until it is given), if the bar fails to touch the chest, if the bar hits the uprights of the rack on the ascent, or if the bar makes any downward motion during the ascent. In addition, if the feet move during the lift, the lift is nullified, as it is if the buttocks lift off the bench or if the body makes any extraneous movement during the lift.
- In the deadlift, a loaded barbell is placed on the floor. The athlete squats down and lifts the bar until the legs and back are straight. The bar is then carefully returned to the floor. In competition, the top of the movement is finished by 'locking-out', which means to straighten the back and lock the knees into a balanced position. Disqualification results from the athlete failing to stand completely upright, for using the thighs to assist the lift (hitching), etc.
Although powerlifting always uses the squat, bench press and deadlift as events, different federations have different rules and different interpretations of the rules, leading to a myriad of differing variations on a theme. Some federations, such as the AAU, allow NO protective gear to be worn by the lifter. Some, such as the IPF, only allow a single-ply tight polyester squat suit, deadlift suit and bench shirt, wraps for knees and wrists, and a belt. Other federations allow for opened-back bench shirts, bench shirts made of multiple ply material, canvas squat suits, etc. In an IPF bench press, the barbell can go as low as the xiphoid process and no further in the lift, whereas in other federations, the barbell can touch the abdomen. (This shortens the distance in which the barbell is moved and is an advantage to the lifter.)
With the advent of the latest high-tech gear, powerlifting gear usage has become somewhat controversial. Whereas it has allowed gargantuan lifts such as Scot Mendelson's 900+ bench press, Brent Mikesell's 1100+ squat, etc. some argue that allowing a shirt that gives 200+ lb (100 kg) of assistance to the lift (when used properly) lessens the point of a purely limit strength sport.
The multiplicity of federations and rules, the behind the scenes politics of Olympic certification, and the use and/or abuse of competition gear makes inclusion in the Olympics unlikely. There is no recognition in the Olympics for powerlifting at this time, however the Cyclops campaign hopes to make Powerlifting an Olympic sport in 2004. [1] The IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) runs worldwide events and aims to standardise an international competition, and is at the forefront of these kinds of efforts.
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American Powerlifting Federation APF - rules, meets, records, memberships. http://www.xnet.com/~frantz/
NASA Powerlifting Photos, upcoming meets, and links to nutritional and supply companies. http://www.nasa-sports.com/
United States Powerlifting Federation USPF - records, meets, qualifying totals, memberships. http://www.uspf.com/
USA Powerlifting USAPL/ADFPA - meets, rules, records, memberships, qualifying totals. http://usapowerlifting.com/
American Powerlifting Association APA - Rules, meet schedule, contest entry forms, meet results, records, photos. http://www.angelfire.com/fl/wpaapacpa/
Natural Powerlifters United NPU (formerly WNPF) - records, meets, memberships. http://members.aol.com/wnpf/
British Amateur Weightlifter's Association BAWLA - Affiliated with IPF Powerlifting and IWF Weightlifting. News, calendar, records, results, photographs, contacts and links. http://www.weights.demon.co.uk/
Canadian Powerlifting Union CPU - records, contest results, events, lifter rankings. http://www.powerlifting.ca/
Westside Barbell Club [Columbus, Ohio] Provides club information, training videos, results, Louie Simmons' biography, and links. http://www.westside-barbell.com/
California Powerlifting Includes state records, upcoming meets, results, rules, and general information. It is affiliated with the United States Powerlifting Federation. http://www.powerliftingca.com/
Council of Australian Powerlifting Organisations CAPO - records, rules, newsletter, photos, forum. http://www.vicnet.net.au/~capo/
Son Light Power International Powerlifting Federation Competition results, records, contact information. http://www.sonlightpower.com/
USA Powerlifting of Minnesota Information about powerlifting in Minnesota and around the world. Includes news, records, events, photos and message board. http://www.thepress.org/
Pan-American Powerlifting Federation Records, meet results, and federation rules. http://www.panampl.com/
Powerlifting Queensland, Australia Official state sporting organization for powerlifting in Queensland Australia. http://www.powerlifting.org.au/
Québec Powerlifting Federation Promotes, controls, and develops powerlifting in Québec. Working in accord with the Canadian Powerlifting Union (CPU) and the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). http://www.geocities.com/qpfpowerlifting/index.html
Canadian Drug Free Powerlifting Association CDFPA - rules, meets, records, and memberships. http://www.geocities.com/cdfpa/
European Powerlifting Federation EPF - This page features records, results, and images. http://www.europowerlifting.org/
NASA Kentucky Powerlifting Information about upcoming powerlifting events in the state. http://www.geocities.com/nasakentuckystatechairman/NASA.html
Southern Powerlifting Federation Event calender, weightlifting news, links, adn information about the organization. http://www.southernpowerlifting.com
World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters The WABDL is an association of lifters who enjoy competing in the single-lift bench press and deadlift. Includes news, records, membership information, meet results, schedule of meets, and entry forms. http://www.wabdl.org/
Ball State Powerlifting Home to some of the most powerful strength athletes in the collegiate ranks. http://www.bsu.edu/web/bsupl/index.htm
Carolina Powerlifting Official web site of North Carolina Powerlifting. Includes records, results, upcoming events, profiles, lifting tools, and related links. http://www.carolinapowerlifting.com/
Minnesota Powerlifting Association Official website of the MPA, a powerlifting organization in Minnesota. Includes state records, membership information, news, event schedule, meet results, upcoming meet information and roster, and training and diet articles. http://www.minnesotapowerlifting.com/
Manitoba Powerlifting Association Competition results, pictures, events, and links to IPF member sites. http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Arena/8124/
NASA Texas Power Texas website for the Natural Athlete Strength Association. Drug-free powerlifting. http://members.tripod.com/nasa-texaspower
British Amateur Weight Lifting Association Courses, events, records, results, and contacts. http://www.bawla.com/
Icelandic Powerlifting Federation IPF powerlifting site with Icelandic and international results and photographs. Also Strongman results and photographs. http://www.kraft.is/english/index.asp
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