Weightlifting is seeing a massive surge in popularity worldwide. But what about powerlifting, a competitive weightlifting sport?
Powerlifting is more than just a sport. The benefits you receive extend beyond normal weightlifting. Powerlifting not only builds muscle but burns fat. When you train in powerlifting competitions, you’ll strengthen your skeleton to reduce your risk of injury.
That’s why it’s no surprise that powerlifting is becoming more popular. Participants train vigorously to lift heavier and beat their previous records. But powerlifting does receive some setbacks. For example, powerlifting is currently not in the Olympics.
Continue reading to learn more about powerlifting and why it deserves to be in the Olympics.
What Is Powerlifting?
Powerlifting is a maximal strength sport where participants attempt three types of lifts in a set sequence. There are three movements that participants perform:
- Deadlift
- Squat
- Bench press
The goal is to lift as much as possible, spread throughout the three different movements. Participants have three attempts at each lift for every movement (9 attempts in total).
Powerlifting does have many rules. First, you have to wait for announcer commands when to begin and when to perform each movement.
There are also specific standards when lifting; for example, if the bar doesn’t come in contact with your body during the bench press, you failed the lift. There are also technical rules that dictate proper form to prevent cheating.
If you break these rules, you’ll be disqualified.
The History of Powerlifting
Humans have been lifting heavy objects ever since the dawn of time, but powerlifting didn’t form until the mid-20th century, where the first powerlifters were setting impressive records.
From here, we became more obsessed with strength. This is seen with early strength athletes and “World’s Strongest Man” competitions. Lifting enthusiasts began challenging each other to see who can lift the heaviest, which is how competitive weightlifting became so popular.
Why Is Powerlifting So Popular?
Today, powerlifting is an international phenomenon. The sport is popular among people from different countries, cultures, and more.
Powerlifting is popular for one main reason: everyone appreciates strength. Strength is associated with authority, status, and notoriety. We’re amazed when we watch someone lift extremely heavy.
Those who lift competitively will begin seeing weightlifting as a lifestyle. When we tackle weight goals, we feel proud and feel encouraged to set new goals. Devoting time to training and fitness becomes easy and it gives you a purpose in life.
The sport is also easy to get into. Most don’t need special athletic abilities or past experience playing sports. Thanks to powerlifting trainers, learning the sport and setting a training regimen has never been easier.
As long as you devote plenty of time to training, anyone can become a powerlifter.
Social media played a big part in powerlifting popularity. Anyone can find powerlifters on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and other social media channels. You see their success and how much weight they can lift, and that inspires you to try powerlifting yourself.
Social media is also a useful tool because it destroys myths. For example, women were previously hesitant about powerlifting. Since there are many female powerlifting competitors, more women are inspired to pick up the weights.
Overall, people who powerlift are passionate about the sport. Powerlifting is becoming more of a community than a competition. We connect with others over common interests and powerlifting is a wonderful way to meet others who are passionate about fitness and weightlifting.
Powerlifting and the Olympics
While powerlifting isn’t in the Olympics, that doesn’t mean the Olympics doesn’t welcome weightlifting sports. Here’s what you need to know.
History of Weightlifting and the Olympics
Competitive weightlifting has a long history in the Olympics. We first saw weightlifting in the 1896 Olympics in Athens. But the sport struggled to receive notoriety in the historic sporting event. For example, women didn’t participate in Olympic weightlifting until the 2000 Games in Sydney.
Because of the prevalence of competitive weightlifting, the sport continues to evolve and the game is becoming more common in the Olympics. But it’s important to know the difference between the weightlifting we see at the Olympics versus in powerlifting.
Olympic Weightlifting vs. Powerlifting
While both sports seem identical, they have many differences. First, Olympic weightlifting focuses on technique as well as the amount of weight you lift.
They put heavy emphasis on the “snatch” and “clean and jerk” lifts. Some workouts focus on explosive power or compound movements as well as strength.
As stated previously, powerlifting focuses on three core movements and tests how much weight the participant can lift. Some aspects, such as isolation exercises, aren’t as noteworthy in powerlifting as they are in Olympic weightlifting.
Why Isn’t Powerlifting in the Olympics?
The International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) has put in requests to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to recognize powerlifting as an Olympic sport. But their request has been rejected for many reasons:
- Not enough international notoriety
- Lack of participation in at least three multi-sport games
- Lack of diversity
- Different rules among different federations
- Judging disparities
- Lack of money
- Varying stances on drug testing
Does this mean powerlifting will never be an Olympic sport? Powerlifting is becoming more popular and welcomes diversity, on a global, age, and gender scale.
The IPF is doing what they can to adhere to the Olympic’s standards so powerlifters can compete in the future. In addition, more federations are drug testing their participants, which is a requirement to participate in the Olympics.
Try Powerlifting Today
Powerlifting is growing in popularity. This sport focuses on improving your strength in three separate moves, encouraging contestants to train and set new weight goals.
Powerlifting welcomes diversity and is becoming more prominent on an international level. Since the main goal is improving strength, anyone can become a powerlifter.
Unfortunately, powerlifting isn’t in the Olympics. But changes are being made to allow powerlifters to compete in the future.
Are you interested in increasing your strength? The best way to break new records is to hire a powerlifting coach. Learn more here.
