Powerlifting, a paralympic sport

[5kgLifter]

Originally Posted by J_Byrd

I thought the IPF was in the trail stages with the olympic group as a sport. I think if it is ever in, it will be raw, or at most single ply.

I believe that occurred in 2000 but it didn't go anywhere, whether it will be put forward again is anybody's guess.

I came across a small write-up, a while ago, on a Facebook page but don't have Facebook any longer.

[Fazc]

If it was back in 2000 then the UK branch has undergone some pretty major changes since then (BWLA to GBPF) so that effectively severed any ties to Olympic lifting in this country and probably put things back a few years on the olympic end.

[5kgLifter]

My apologies, that was bodybuilding not powerlifting...though it's a Wiki, it gives some of the info the Facebook posting did but not half as much, there was also another fed mentioned on the Facebook page but not in this excerpt, the Facebook post indicated there had been disagreement of some sort between two official bodies...


In the early 2000s, the IFBB was attempting to make bodybuilding an Olympic sport. It obtained full IOC membership in 2000 and was attempting to get approved as a demonstration event at the Olympics which would hopefully lead to it being added as a full contest. This did not happen...

Bodybuilding - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[austin.j.taylor]

Originally Posted by Fazc

I think Strongman has a much better chance of getting into the Olympics. At least in the UK, the Olympics have already authorised their name to be used as part of a series of 'Olympic Strongman' competitions lined up for the next year. So that's a big boon for them and a very positive nod in that direction. We may even see Strongman as a guest sport in the next Olympics if this is any indication.

Bodybuilding as well is sufficiently different to warrant inclusion, in my opinion.

Strongman wont get in for one very big reason. Drug Testing. Strongman isnt tested in the states(I wish it was) at all ever. You will see a bastard/crossfit style of strongman in the games long before actual strongman was ever allowed.

The only chance powerlifting has is the usapl/ipf, that is mostly due to their fairly strong testing program.

One of the major reasons we wont see powerlifting is due to the amount of participants that division would have. Imagine 10 athletes for every weight class on the male and female side. Thats a huge influx of olympic competitors and I think 10 would be a very low number for most countries, let alone total.

[Fazc]

Originally Posted by austin.j.taylor

Strongman wont get in for one very big reason. Drug Testing.

The same could have been said for Weightlifting had it started now, while I think it's a factor I don't think it's the deciding factor as you're making out here.

Like I've said already it has been given a very strong nod by the Olympics here in the UK, by authorising a series of 'Olympic Strongman' competitions. So it's at least in the beginning stages, we'll have to see how it pans out over time. The Strongman scene is large in the UK and very well represented at all levels, with some amazing athletes at the 80kg, 90kg, 105kg and open categories.

[BendtheBar]

Well, one thing's for sure. We love the sport here, and we are going to do everything we can to grow it one person at a time.

[Trevor Lane]

Originally Posted by austin.j.taylor

One of the major reasons we wont see powerlifting is due to the amount of participants that division would have. Imagine 10 athletes for every weight class on the male and female side. Thats a huge influx of olympic competitors and I think 10 would be a very low number for most countries, let alone total.

If they picked 1 governing body (most likely the IPF) and used their world or even continental championships as the qualifier (like weightlifting) that would be alleviated.

As for sports that can be eliminated, I immediately nominate "equestian" as the animals are the athletes. I would also nominate the walking events.

I too would love to see strongman but agree that it would end up being the retarded crossfit hybrid that seems to be taking off in popularity if it was in. The other problem with strongman is which strongman events would they use. A 2 or 3 lift limit would have to be in place for the sake of getting any TV time, which would be pretty lame considering most silver level NAS shows have 5 events.