Powerlifting on an Upswing

Powerlifting has been considered an IPC Championship Sport since the founding of the IPC. Its long tradition in the Paralympics began in 1964 at the 2nd Paralympic Games in Tokyo, where only lifters with a spinal cord injury were allowed to compete. "Weightlifting", as it was known then, underwent a major transition to include other disability groups and incorporate rules identical to those of powerlifting competitions for the able-bodied. It wasn’t until Barcelona 1992 that the decision was made to include only "powerlifting" in the Games rather than "weightlifting".

The sport has since experienced rapid development as worldwide awareness and interest has improved dramatically. This is especially true now as we have seen a 75 per cent increase in participation over the past two years to a total number of 2,435 male athletes on the ranking list. Male powerlifters come mostly from Europe, followed by Africa with 464 athletes.

Powerlifting has also overcome many barriers in terms of developing the women’s discipline. Women’s participation has dramatically increased in recent years to 478 athletes from 48 countries in 1999. The 2000 Sydney Paralympics will have the honor of holding the first ever Paralympic Women’s Powerlifting Event.

It is evident that there is room for further growth in powerlifting as the athletes are consistently improving their performance. World records are being continually broken, and this is very exciting for the growth of the sport. Although these athletes have a disability, the credibility of the sport is reaffirmed with the comparison of disabled and able-bodied powerlifting records. In four weight classes, the records held by the Paralympic athletes are higher! For example, while the able-bodied 60kg weight class world record holder lifts 190 kg, Paralympic athlete Mathana Metwaly Ibrahim from Egypt holds the world record at 202.50 kg in the same weight class.

Increasing awareness, combined with IPC Powerlifting Committee Chairman Pol Wautermartens‘ experience and passion for the sport, bodes well for the future of powerlifting in the Paralympic Movement. As they look forward to the 2000 Paralympics and beyond, Pol and the sport of powerlifting are looking to continued success.

The IPC Powerlifting Committee is currently looking for bids for regional championships in 2001 and 2003. Please take the initiative to contribute to the development of this exciting sport! For more information on the sport, please contact Pol Wautermartens at Elzenstraat 12, 8000 Brugge, Belgium, Fax: [+32] 50 31 18 05 or by e-mail at wautermartens@pollifting.org. There are rules available in six different languages and Pol is anxious to spread the word.

Sport Chairperson Profile:
Pol Wautermartens

It is not only the athletes whose commitment to a sport may directly affect the success they experience. The dedication of coaches and administrators is instrumental in the successful development of the Paralympics. As nearly 300 athletes from over 80 countries prepare for the powerlifting competitions at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, Pol Wautermartens can look at the world’s fastest-growing Paralympic sport and smile. Pol, Chairperson of the IPC Powerlifting Committee, has had an enormous impact on the exciting development of powerlifting in the Paralympic Movement.

Pol has more than 30 years’ experience in the sport of powerlifting as an athlete, coach and administrator. He was the National Powerlifting Champion of Belgium for 15 years from 1965 to 1980 and has been the National Coach for disabled lifting since 1968. On an international level, he has held the position of Technical Delegate for Paralympic Games since 1988 and has been the Chairperson of the IPC Powerlifting Committee since 1992. In this volunteer position, Pol is known to work in excess of 70 hours a week. His goal is to find people around the world who have knowledge in the sport of powerlifting, and work with them to create and support a National Paralympic Committee in their respective countries.

Pol expresses that his dream has always been "to create more countries in powerlifting than we currently have in the IPC". He is well on his way as there are currently 102 member nations in powerlifting, and Pol is hoping to see an increase to 150 members by 2004. He is also expecting an increase to 3,500 men and 1,000 women competitors in powerlifting. Pol’s tremendous time commitment and effort can be seen first-hand by taking a look at the statistics of this ever-growing sport. It is leadership like this that the IPC and the Paralympic Games are all about.

Pol believes that to develop the sport for the future, we have to reach international sport federation level for each discipline. He emphasizes the need for improved communication: "We need to discuss this openly with the IOSDs and with the IPC, to continue the development."

"My dream has always been               
to create more countries in powerlifting than
               we currently have in IPC."
Pol Wautermartens, Chairperson of the IPC Powerlifting Committee