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Powerlifting joined the Paralympic program in 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. For women, powerlifting was recently added to the Paralympics, making its debut at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia.

In this event, athletes compete in the bench press. Competitors lie on an official lifting bench, with their head, trunk (including buttocks), legs and both heels extended and in contact with the bench throughout the lift. The athlete lowers the bar to his or her chest and holds it still. Once the bar is stationary, the athlete pushes upwards until his/her arms are fully extended and suspends the bar in place until signalled by the official. The name of the athlete is announced, and he or she then has two minutes to complete an entire lift. Each athlete is allowed three attempts and a fourth attempt is granted if he or she is challenging a record. If the athlete is attempting to set a new record, the competitor is given three minutes to perform the lift. The winner is the athlete who lifts the heaviest weight.

Although all athletes must have a valid classification card to ensure eligibility, athletes compete in an open competition; therefore, no matter what each individual’s disability may be, all athletes compete against one another.

With the exception of some rule adjustments, the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) directs Paralympic powerlifting. In order to assist in competition, athletes may be strapped onto the lifting bench at any point on the legs from the ankles to the hips with a single strapping belt, and in the case of an athlete with cerebral palsy, two strapping belts are acceptable. Also, athletes with cerebral palsy and other related neurological conditions compete with their knees flexed and an approved wedge under the knees. Amputee athletes are permitted to compete wearing an artificial limb.

To ensure safety, an athlete with an upper body disability may be prohibited from competition if an official believes that it would be too dangerous for the athlete to compete.

Lifters may be disqualified for a variety of violations including: improper body position, failure to abide by the official’s signals, uneven bar height during the lift, and bar contact by the spotters during the lift.