History of Powerlifting

Weight lifting added then omited from olymic games

Sep 15, 1900

the story of powerlifting In 1900 there was no weightlifting in the olymic games. Weightlifting returned to athletics in 1904.

Sport omitted from games

Mar 17, 1908

the story of powerlifting Weightlifting was omitted from the 1908 and 1912 olympic games for unknown reasons.

Start of Powerlifting

Jan 7, 1950

History of Powerlifting Fifty years ago there was no powerlifting, only the three olympic lifts, clean and press, snatch, and the clean and jerk. Many people did not like olympic lifting because many men where unable to perform such explosive lifts. Other lifts mainly used by bodybuilders to build strength where used as individual powerlifts. Heavy squats, bench presses, and dead lifts where performed by strong men in the 1950's.

First among giants

Apr 19, 1958

History of Powerlifting Doug Hepburn and Benoit cote from Canada where among the strongest during the late 1950's lifting over 1,000 pounds each.

York Barbell gets famous

May 20, 1960

the story of powerlifting Around the 1960's many people who wanted to be strong would purchase York Barbells which still sells weights today.

First Powerlifting meet,

Jan 13, 1964

History of powerlifting, In 1964 the first unofficial american powerlifting meet took place in York, Pennsylvania

AAU sets first national powerlifting championship,

Mar 14, 1965

History of powerlifting As a result of the 1964 american meet, the Amateur Atheletic Union scheduled the first National Powerlifting Chapionships in 1965,

Arnold Austrian heavyweight undisputed champion

Mar 18, 1965

Arnold's powerlifting history Arnold says that before he was 18 he was the Austrian heavyweight undisputed champion, at the Austrian Olympic lifting Championships. This was also his last lifting competition.

Arnold sets world deadlift record

Feb 19, 1966

arnold schwarzenegger powerlifting In 1966 at 19 years old Arnold Schwarzenegger set a world record of 710 lbs deadlift, and finished second in the German world championships

Heavier weight class added

May 14, 1967

History of powerlifting In 1967 a 242 lbs weight class was added and competed at the senior national championships,

First international powerlifting meet

Jun 11, 1968

History of powerlifting In 1968 the British, the French, and the United States had the first international championship.

Added more categories

Sep 14, 1968

History of powerlifting In 1968 the International Weightlifting Federation added a 114 lb and the 242 lb weight classes officially to powerlifting.

World powerlifting championships

Aug 1, 1971

History of powerlifting On August 1, 1971 the first world powerlifting championships where held in York, Pennsylvania

IPF was founded

Nov 11, 1972

History of powerlifting On November 11, 1972 in Zembo, Mosque there was an international meeting that ended in the approval of the creation of the IPF international powerlifting federation.

First official World Championships

Nov 11, 1973

History of Powerlifting Although the International Powerlifting Federation was founded in November of 1972 the first official world championships where held on November of the following year of 1973.

Australia makes world champions

Jun 14, 1977

History of Powerlifting In the 1977 world championships award was awarded to Perth, Australia.

First women world championships

Jan 15, 1980

History of powerlifting The first world championships for women took place in Lowell, Mass. USA. From 1980 to 1988 the U.S. won all but one trophy, which was won by Australia in Adeleide in 1983.

Change presidents, Women get involved in the sport.

Aug 4, 1984

History of powerlifting In 1984 the president of the IPF who had served for 8 year was changed for Heinz Vierthaler of Germany who was to serve for the next 12 years. Women where also getting more into powerlifting.

Women get bigger in the sport

Apr 6, 1985

the story of powerlifting Bev Frances was the first women to truley define womens physique competition.

Official championships awarded to female

Jul 25, 1987

the story of powerlifting In 1987 there where official world championships awarded to female lifters in the sport

Titan knee wraps approved by IPF

Jun 20, 1990

titan support systems Since the 1990's the IPF approved the Titan gold standard knee wraps for elite lifters squating heavy weights. These are said to be the most durable and sturdy wraps ever made by Titan Support Systems.

Bench shirt accepted by congress of IPF

Mar 15, 1992

History of Powerlifting The World championships returned to Great Britain in 1992 and at this meet, congress approved of the use of bench shirts.

Mark henry totals 2336

Oct 23, 1995

Mens raw world records In 1995 Mark Henry accumulated a total of 2336 lbs with wraps at the World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation.

Full body unitard accepted as uniform

Apr 29, 2011

the story of powerlifting In 2011 a full body unitard or a singlet was accepted as the official weightlifting uniform

World record squat

Dec 4, 2011

serious powerlifting On December 4, 2011 David Hoff, totals 2960 lbs, with a 1200 lb squat, 965 lb bench, and a 795 lb deadlift