Paralympic powerlifting, also known as para powerlifting and para-lifting, is an adaptation of the sport of powerlifting for athletes with disabilities. The only discipline in Paralympic powerlifting is the bench press. The sport is governed by the International Paralympic Committee and is open to anyone with a minimum level of disability who can extend their arms within 20° of full extension during a lift. Powerlifting has been competed at the Summer Paralympics since 1984.
Lucy Ogechukwu Ejike is a Nigerian Paralympic powerlifter. She has represented her country at six consecutive Paralympic Games from 2000 in Sydney through to 2021 in Tokyo. She has won medals at each, three gold, two silver and one bronze. She won a further silver medal at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth games women's lightweight category of the Para Powerlifting event behind compatriot Esther Oyema.
Ali Jawad is a British Paralympic powerlifter competing in the −59 kg class. Born without legs, he took up powerlifting at the age of 16. He competed in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, finishing fourth. The following year he took gold at the Asian Open Championships making a world record lift of 185.5 kg. At the 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships in Dubai, he became World Champion in his class, setting another world record, lifting 190 kg.
Zoe Newson is a British powerlifter. She is a two-time bronze medalist at the Summer Paralympics and she won the silver medal in her event at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships.
Siamand Rahman was an Iranian Paralympic powerlifter. He won gold medals at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio and the 2010 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou. He is the current IPC Powerlifting World Record holder in the +107 kg category with a 310.0 kilograms (683.4 lb) bench press and also holds the junior world record with 290.0 kilograms (639.3 lb) and the Paralympic Championship Record with 310.0 kilograms (683.4 lb). Siamand died on 1 March 2020 due to cardiac arrest.
Sherif Othman, sometimes written as Sherif Osman, is an Egyptian Paralympic powerlifter competing in the -56 kg class. Othman has participated in four Summer Paralympic Games winning three gold medals and one silver medal. In the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing he broke the world record with a lift of 202.5 kg. He surpassed his own record when he record a weight of 205 kg at the 2010 IPC Powerlifting World Championship. Then he surpassed his own record again of 205 kg when he record a weight of 211 kg at 2016 Summer Paralympics Games winning another gold medal.
Esther Oyema is a Nigerian powerlifter.
Samam Razi is an Iranian powerlifter. He won the bronze medal in the men's 107 kg event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan. A few months later, he also won the bronze medal in his event at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Fatma Omar is an Egyptian powerlifter competing in the -56 kg category. She is a dominant power in her sport, winning gold in her event in four Summer Paralympics, and another four gold medals at the IPC Powerlifting World Championships.
Xu Lili is a Chinese power lifter. She is a two-time silver medalist at the Summer Paralympics and has been world champion in the women's up-to-73kg competition.
Mohamed Elelfat is an Egyptian Paralympic powerlifter competing in the -72 kg class. Elelfat has participated in four Summer Paralympic Games winning silver in the -75 kg category in the 2012 Games in London. He also won the bronze medal in the men's 80 kg event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan. A few months later, he won the bronze medal in his event at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Randa Mahmoud is an Egyptian Paralympic powerlifter. She won a gold medal in the 86 kg division at the 2016 Paralympics, placing second in 2008 and 2012 in lighter categories.
Tharwat Alhajaj is an Olympic weightlifting champion from Jordan. She represented Jordan in the 2016 Summer Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro and won a Powerlifting silver. The 43-year-old lifted 119 kg in the women's 86 kg category to take silver behind Egypt's Randa Mahmoud who lifted 130 kg for gold. Bronze went to Mexico's Catalina Diaz Vilchis who managed 117 kg.
Powerlifting in Cameroon is one of several para-sports in Cameroon for people with physical disabilities. The sport is represented nationally at the University Games.
Grace Ebere Anozie is a Nigerian Paralympian in powerlifting. Anozie's first Paralympic medal was a bronze at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in the 82.5 kg event. At subsequent Paralympics, Anozie won a silver medal in 2008 and gold in 2012. During her career, Anozie set a Paralympic record at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in the over 86 kg event. At the 2012 Fazza International Powerlifting Championships, Anozie broke the record for most weight by a woman Paralympian in the over 82.5 kg event with 168 kilograms. After the 2012 Summer Paralympics, Anozie became a Member of the Order of the Niger.
Amal Mahmoud Osman, also known as Amal Mahmoud Hanafy, is an Egyptian powerlifter who competes on behalf of her country. She has won medals at three successive Summer Paralympics.
Amalia Pérez Vázquez is a Mexican powerlifter in the 44 kilograms (97 lb) - 60 kilograms (130 lb) bracket. She has four times been a Paralympic champion and is the only powerlifter in the world to have Paralympic champion in three divisions.
Guo Lingling is a Chinese Paralympic powerlifter. She won the gold medal in the women's 41 kg event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan. She is also a three-time gold medalist at the World Para Powerlifting Championships.
Vera Georgievna Muratova is a Russian Paralympic powerlifter. She won the bronze medal in the women's 79 kg event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan. A few months later, she won the silver medal in her event at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Abdelkareem Mohmmad Ahmad Khattab is a Jordanian Paralympic powerlifter. He won the gold medal in the men's 88 kg event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan. He also set a new Paralympic record of 231 kg. A few months later, he won the gold medal in his event at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia. He also set a new world record of 250 kg.
