Powerlifting is a competitive strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. As in the sport of Olympic weightlifting, it involves the athlete attempting a maximal weight single-lift effort of a barbell loaded with weight plates. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as "odd lifts", which followed the same three-attempt format but used a wider variety of events, akin to strongman competition. Eventually, odd lifts became standardized to the current three.
Jón Páll Sigmarsson was an Icelandic strongman, powerlifter and bodybuilder who was the first man to win the World's Strongest Man four times and the first and only man to win the World Muscle Power Classic five times. Jón Páll is widely regarded as one of the greatest strength athletes all time, and is credited with developing Iceland's strength identity. He was named Icelandic Sportsperson of the Year in 1981, and was posthumously inducted into the World's Strongest Man Hall of Fame in 2012.
Chen Wei-ling is a Taiwanese Olympic weightlifter and powerlifter.
Truman Hugh Cassidy, better known as Hugh Cassidy, is an American metal sculptor, jazz musician, and former powerlifter who competed in powerlifting just prior to the formation of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). In 1971, he became U.S. National Powerlifting Champion as well as World Powerlifting Champion at the inaugural Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) World Championships, defeating the young soon-to-be all-time greats Jim Williams and John Kuc in the super heavyweight division.
Brett Gibbs is a New Zealand powerlifter, competing in the 83 kilogram weight class. He is a 3-time open world champion and 1-time junior world champion in the classic division.
Jesus Olivares is an American powerlifter. He is the reigning world champion at the IPF Classic Powerlifting Championships in the 120+ kilogram weight class, winning four competitions.
Agata Sitko is a Polish heavyweight powerlifter, competing in the IPF. Despite being a junior, she has won the World Games in 2022 as a Heavyweight, the 2024 SBD Sheffield Powerlifting Championships, and has won the IPF World Equipped Championships in 2021, as well as the World Classic Championships in 2024.
Heather Connor is an American powerlifter, competing in the 47 kilogram weight class. She is a 2-time IPF world champion and 6-time national champion.
Krzysztof Wierzbicki is a Polish powerlifter. Wierzbicki has won 5 gold medals at the World Classic Championships and 2 gold medals at the European Classic (raw) Championships in the IPF. Wierzbicki has also took part in the World Games in 2017, where he finished in 5th place.
Emil Norling is a Swedish powerlifter. Norling has won 1 gold and two silver medals at the world classic championships and 5 gold medals at the European classic (raw) championships in the IPF. Norling became the first Swede to earn first place in all three weights, becoming International Powerlifting Federation champion of the 2019 Junior World Classic Powerlifting Championships.
Dariusz Wszoła is a Polish powerlifter. Wszoła has won 3 gold medals at the world championships and 12 gold medals at the European championships in the IPF. In total he won 38 medals of any colour at classic or equipped powerlifting senior championships. In addition he has got a plenty of medals from World and European Bench Press Championships. He also took part in 4 editions of the World Games and won bronze medal at the 2005 World Games.
Kjell Egil Bakkelund is a Norwegian powerlifter. Bakkelund has won 5 gold medals at the world championships and 7 gold medals at the European championships in the IPF. He is also two time World Games medallist, winning a gold medal at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham and silver medal in 2013 World Games in Cali.
Mārtiņš Krūze is a Latvian powerlifter. Krūze has won two medals at the world classic championships and three gold medals at the European classic (raw) championships in the IPF.
Jezza Uepa is a Nauruan powerlifter. Uepa has won gold medal at the 2019 World Classic Powerlifting Championships in 120+ category. In his collection from world championships he has got also two silver and one bronze medal. He also won a bronze medal at the 2011 Pacific Games in 120+ kg category. Following the 2019 World Powerlifting Championship in Sweden, Uepa was crowned as the World's Strongest Man. In 2023, Uepa has squated 470 kg at Brisbane Open. The same year, he lifted 420 kg at the IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships which were held at Calgary, Canada. During the Oceania Classic Powerlifting & Bench Press Championship which was held at Christchurch, New Zealand, Uepa lifted has 455 kg raw.
Temur Samkharadze is a Georgian powerlifter. He is current world silver medallist in 120+ category. He has also won two gold medals at the European classic (raw) championships in the IPF.
Siim Rast is an Estonian classic powerlifter. Rast is two time European champion in 120+ kg category. He also won one silver and one bronze medal at the World classic (raw) championships in the IPF.
Panagiotis Tarinidis is a French powerlifter competing in the raw 66 kilogram category. Tarinidis is two time world champion and two time European champion.
Eddie Berglund is a Swedish powerlifter. Berglund has won gold medal at the 2022 world classic championships and 3 gold medals at the European classic (raw) championships in the IPF.
Russel Tiza Orhii is an American powerlifter, competing in the 83 kilogram weight class. He is a 2-time IPF World Champion and 6-time National champion.
Taylor Atwood is an American powerlifter. He is a 3-time IPF World Champion and has held multiple world records in the 74 kilogram weight class.
