Powerlifting

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.

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.

Links

• Cyclops campaign
• Comprehensive history of PL