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.^[1]

Paralympic Powerlifting / Para Powerlifting

Highest governing body	ISMGF (1964–1984) No Organ IPC Powerlifting (1984–2016) WPPO (2017–present)
Characteristics
Mixed-sex	Yes
Type	Indoor
Presence
Paralympic	1984

History

• 1964–1984: Wheelchair Powerlifting
• 1984–2016: Paralympic Powerlifting / IPC Powerlifting
• 2017–present: Para Powerlifting

Best and total medals

In 2022, WPPO initiated a new "total lift" medal, awarded for the sum of all good lifts from the three attempts.^[2]

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.^[3]

• 1964/1984 – 2021: Only best lifts have medals
• 2022–present: Best lifts and total lifts have medals

Ages

Source:^[4]

From 2002 to 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 where held the 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		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:^{[5][6][7][8][9]}

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	Athletes
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

Main articles: World Para Powerlifting World Cup, Para Powerlifting World Cup, and IPC Powerlifting 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	Athletes
-	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	Ref
–49 kg	183.5 kg	Lê Văn Công	Vietnam	4 December 2017	World Championships	Mexico City, Mexico	[10]
–54 kg	205 kg	Sherif Othman	Egypt	6 April 2014	World Championships	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	[11]
–59 kg	211 kg	Sherif Othman	Egypt	9 September 2016	Paralympic Games	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	[12]
–65 kg	222 kg	Zou Yi	China	24 October 2023	Asian Para Games	Hangzhou, China	[13]
–72 kg	232 kg	Bonnie Bunyau Gustin	Malaysia	6 September 2024	Paralympic Games	Paris, France	[14]
–80 kg	242 kg	Rouhollah Rostami	Iran	6 September 2024	Paralympic Games	Paris, France	[15]
–88 kg	251 kg	Abdelkareem Khattab	Jordan	29 August 2023	World Championships	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	[16]
–97 kg	260 kg	Abdelkareem Khattab	Jordan	7 September 2024	Paralympic Games	Paris, France	[17]
–107 kg	254 kg	Aliakbar Gharibshahi	Iran	17 December 2022	World Cup	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	[18]
+107 kg	310 kg	Siamand Rahman	Iran	14 September 2016	Paralympic Games	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	[19]

Women

Category	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Meet	Place	Ref
–41 kg	123 kg	Guo Lingling	China	23 October 2023	Asian Para Games	Hangzhou, China	[13]
–45 kg	123 kg	Guo Lingling	China	4 September 2024	Paralympic Games	Paris, France	[20]
–50 kg	131 kg	Esther Oyema	Nigeria	10 April 2018	Commonwealth Games	Gold Coast, Australia	[21]
–55 kg	135 kg	Rehab Ahmed	Egypt	22 June 2024	World Cup	Tbilisi, Georgia	[22]
–61 kg	150 kg	Onyinyechi Mark	Nigeria	6 September 2024	Paralympic Games	Paris, France	[23]
–67 kg	142 kg	Tan Yujiao	China	6 September 2024	Paralympic Games	Paris, France	[24]
–73 kg	151 kg	Kafila Almaruf	Nigeria	26 August 2023	World Championships	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	[16]
–79 kg	154 kg	Han Miaoyu	China	7 September 2024	Paralympic Games	Paris, France	[25]
–86 kg	159 kg	Zheng Feifei	China	25 June 2024	World Cup	Tbilisi, Georgia	[22]
+86 kg	167 kg	Folashade Oluwafemiayo	Nigeria	8 September 2024	Paralympic Games	Paris, France	[26]

Next gen

Men

Category	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Meet	Place	Ref
–49 kg	161 kg	Muslim Al-Sudani	Iraq	27 October 2022	African Open Championships	Cairo, Egypt	[27]
–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	[28]
–65 kg	204 kg	Bonnie Bunyau Gustin	Malaysia	9 October 2018	Asian Para Games	Jakarta, Indonesia	[29]
–72 kg	179 kg	Donato Telesca	Italy	26 April 2019	World Cup	Eger, Hungary	[30]
–80 kg	170 kg	Islam Mohamed	Egypt	28 October 2022	African Open Championships	Cairo, Egypt	[27]
–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	[31]
–107 kg	180 kg	Faruk Öztürk	Turkey	2 December 2017	World Junior Championships	Mexico City, Mexico	[32]
+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	Ref
–41 kg	114 kg	Esther Nworgu	Nigeria	28 October 2022	African Open Championships	Cairo, Egypt	[27]
–45 kg	100 kg	Loveth Abokin	Nigeria	5 February 2020	World Cup	Abuja, Nigeria	[33]
–50 kg	108 kg	Olivia Broome	Great Britain	27 November 2021	World Junior Championships	Tbilisi, Georgia	[34]
–55 kg	127 kg	Onyinyechi Mark	Nigeria	5 February 2020	World Cup	Abuja, Nigeria	[33]
–61 kg	116 kg	Fatma Korany	Egypt	5 February 2020	World Cup	Abuja, Nigeria	[33]
–67 kg	116 kg	Mariana D'Andrea	Brazil	7 December 2018	Americas Open Championships	Bogotá, Colombia	[35]
–73 kg	100 kg	Britney Arendse	Ireland	27 April 2019	World Cup	Eger, Hungary	[30]
–79 kg	108 kg	Marion Serrano	Chile	17 July 2019	World Championships	Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan	[36]
–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	Nationality	Date	Meet	Place	Ref
–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	Ref
–41 kg	71 kg	Snezhanna Boiko	Kazakhstan	10 May 2025	World Cup	Tbilisi, Georgia	[37]
–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	[38]
–61 kg	114 kg	Rukhshona Uktamova	Uzbekistan	6 September 2024	Paralympic Games	Paris, France	[23]
–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	Ref
–49 kg	167 kg	Zheng Yu	China	23 August 2023	World Championships	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	[16]
–54 kg	178 kg	Roland Ezuruike	Nigeria	27 August 2023	World Championships	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	[16]
–59 kg	178 kg	Juan Garrido	Chile	10 May 2025	World Cup	Tbilisi, Georgia	[37]
–65 kg	168 kg	Standard
–72 kg	194 kg	Shaaban Ibrahim	Egypt	24 August 2023	World Championships	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	[16]
–80 kg	204 kg	Standard
–88 kg	225 kg	Mohamed Elelfat	Egypt	23 June 2024	World Cup	Tbilisi, Georgia	[22]
–97 kg	230 kg	Fabio Torres	Colombia	10 July 2022	Parapan American Open Championships	St. Louis, United States	[39]
–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	[38]

Women

Category	Record	Athlete	Nationality	Date	Meet	Place	Ref
–41 kg	92 kg	Standard
–45 kg	108 kg	Nazmiye Muslu Muratlı	Turkey	4 September 2024	Paralympic Games	Paris, France
–50 kg	112 kg	Nazmiye Muslu Muratlı	Turkey	21 June 2024	World Cup	Tbilisi, Georgia	[22]
–55 kg	113 kg	Standard
–61 kg	132 kg	Amalia Pérez	Mexico	8 July 2022	Parapan American Open Championships	St. Louis, United States	[39]
–67 kg	132 kg	Amalia Pérez	Mexico	23 June 2024	World Cup	Tbilisi, Georgia	[22]
–73 kg	121 kg	Raushan Koishibayeva	Kazakhstan	24 June 2024	World Cup	Tbilisi, Georgia	[22]
–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	[18]
+86 kg	142 kg	Nadia Ali	Egypt	29 October 2022	African Open Championships	Cairo, Egypt	[27]

See also

• List of Olympic records in weightlifting
• List of world records in Olympic weightlifting
• List of junior world records in Olympic weightlifting
• List of youth world records in Olympic weightlifting
• Progression of the bench press world record
• NFL Scouting Combine Bench press records
• Squat world records
• World record progression women's weightlifting
• World record progression women's weightlifting (1998–2018)
• World record progression men's weightlifting
• World record progression men's weightlifting (1998–2018)