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.
The World Para Powerlifting Championships, known before 30 November 2016 as the IPC Powerlifting World Championships, is an event organized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Competitors with a physical disability compete, and in a few events athletes with an intellectual disability compete. First held in 1994, the competition was held every four years. Since 2017, it is held every two years. The competitions are also part of the qualification process to compete at the Summer Paralympics.
Lê Văn Công is a Vietnamese sports powerlifter who participated in the 2008 and crowned the men's 49 kg event at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. He became the first Vietnamese athlete to win a gold medal in the history of the Summer Paralympics. He won the silver medal in the men's 49 kg event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan.
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.
Dimitrios Bakochristos is a Greek Paralympic powerlifter of short stature. He is a two-time bronze medalist at the Summer Paralympics and a two-time bronze medalist at the World Para Powerlifting Championships.
Omar Sami Hamadeh Qarada is a Jordanian Paralympic powerlifter. He is a three-time medalist at the Summer Paralympics, including gold in 2021, and a four-time medalist, including two gold medals, at the World Para Powerlifting Championships. He is the first powerlifter representing Jordan to win a gold medal at the Paralympics.
Nader Moradi is an Iranian Paralympic powerlifter. He represented Iran at the 2012 Summer Paralympics and he won the gold medal in the men's 60 kg event.
Rehab Ahmed is an Egyptian Paralympic powerlifter. She is a two-time silver medalist at the Summer Paralympics and a three-time gold medalist at the World Para Powerlifting Championships.
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.
Mexico participated at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan, from 24 August to 5 September 2021.
Gu Xiaofei is a Chinese Paralympic powerlifter. He is a three-time silver medalist at the Summer Paralympics. He is also a five-time medalist, including two gold medals, at the World Para Powerlifting Championships.
Perla Patricia Bárcenas is a Mexican Paralympic powerlifter. She represented Mexico at the Summer Paralympics in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2021 and she won three medals. She won the silver medal in the women's 75 kg event at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, Australia, the bronze medal in the women's 82.5 kg event in 2008 and the bronze medal in the women's +82.5 kg event in 2012.
Olivia Broome is a para powerlifter who won a bronze medal in the under-50 kg event at the delayed 2020 Summer Paralympics. She is the British and world junior record holder in the under-50 kg event, and has won multiple Para Powerlifting World Cup medals. She also won the junior under-50 kg event at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships, silver medal in the women's 50 kg event, and a silver medal in the lightweight event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
David Mamievich Degtyarev is a Kazakh Paralympic powerlifter. He won the gold medal in the men's 54 kg event at both the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan and the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Herbert Aceituno is a Salvadoran Paralympic powerlifter of short stature. He is a bronze medalist at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan, a silver medalist at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia and a gold medalist at the 2019 Parapan American Games held in Lima, Peru.
Ruza Kuzieva is an Uzbekistani Paralympic powerlifter. She won the silver medal in the women's 61 kg event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan. She won the gold medal in the women's 55 kg event at the 2018 Asian Para Games and she is a two-time medalist at the World Para Powerlifting Championships.
Mariana D'Andrea is a Brazilian Paralympic powerlifter. She won the gold medal in the women's 73 kg event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan. She is the first competitor representing Brazil to win a gold medal in powerlifting at the Paralympics. 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.
Ye Jixiong is a Chinese Paralympic powerlifter. He won the silver medal in the men's 88 kg event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan. He is also a three-time medalist, including two gold medals, at the World Para Powerlifting Championships.
The 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships was a powerlifting competition for athletes with a disability. It was held in Tbilisi, Georgia from 27 November to 5 December. It was previously scheduled to be held in Batumi, Georgia and, before that, it was scheduled to be held in Eger, Hungary.
China (CHN)
Nigeria (NGR)
Iran (IRI)
Egypt (EGY)
Mexico (MEX)*
Vietnam (VIE)
France (FRA)
Jordan (JOR)
Ukraine (UKR)
Turkey (TUR)
Cuba (CUB)
Mongolia (MGL)
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Algeria (ALG)
Brazil (BRA)
Chinese Taipei (TPE)
Colombia (COL)
Great Britain (GBR)
Greece (GRE)
Uzbekistan (UZB)