How Para Powerlifting Works

• Para powerlifting is the ultimate test of upper body strength. ​

• Bench press is the only Para Powerlifting discipline contested at the Paralympic Games. 
• Para Powerlifting involves athletes performing a bench press while lying flat on a specially designed bench.
• The goal is to lower a weighted bar from arm's length to the chest and then return it to the starting position under control.
• Each athlete gets three attempts to lift the heaviest weight possible, the winner is the athlete who lifts the most weight in their category.​

• Athletes must have a physical impairment to the hips or legs, who meet the minimum eligibility criteria and can perform a bench press safely and appropriately, according to the World Para Powerlifting rules.Rather than compete in different sport classes according to impairment like other Paralympic sports, male and female athletes who meet the minimum eligibility criteria for Para Powerlifting compete in a single sport class (powerlifting) across 10 different weight categories.

 Weight Categories​:

Males up to:       49kg | 54kg | 59kg | 65kg | 72kg | 80kg | 88kg | 97kg | 107kg | +107kg