Powerlifting is a 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.
William Kazmaier is an American former world champion powerlifter, world champion strongman and professional wrestler. During the 1970s and 1980s, he set numerous powerlifting and strongman world records, and won two International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Championships and three World's Strongest Man titles. In the 1980s, Kazmaier became famous for his claim to be "the strongest man who ever lived" by equaling and surpassing spectacular and versatile feats of strength of famous strongmen of the 20th century. He is widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest competitors in strength competitions and was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
The International Powerlifting Federation is an international governing body for the sport of powerlifting as recognized by the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
Jamie Reeves is a British former coal miner, strongman and professional wrestler. As a strongman, he won the 1989 World's Strongest Man, was World Muscle Power champion, and also had numerous other titles including Europe's Strongest Man and Britain's Strongest Man. Following retirement from competitive sport he continued to be involved in strength athletics as a referee, event promoter and coach.
The Wilks coefficient or Wilks formula is a mathematical coefficient that can be used to measure the relative strengths of powerlifters despite the different weight classes of the lifters. Robert Wilks, CEO of Powerlifting Australia, is the author of the formula.
Donald C. Reinhoudt was an American powerlifter and strongman. He won the IPF World Powerlifting Superheavyweight Championship four consecutive times (1973–1976), and won the World's Strongest Man in 1979.
Goraya is a city in Jalandhar district and Tehsil of the Indian state of Punjab. It lies between Jalandhar and stretch of National Highway 44, Grand Trunk Road. Goraya city was famous for manufacturing of foundary objects, bearings and other steel products before nineties. The city was known as The Manchester of Punjab. Even todays grass cutting machines (toka) and ball bearings are manufactured. World famous gear making company Guru Nanak Auto GNA has office in Giraya. Government and private schools are there but college is not available in the city.
James Gregory Henderson, also known as Big James Henderson and James "Hollywood" Henderson, is a former American powerlifter who specialized in the bench press. He competed in the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and was five times Super Heavyweight World Bench Press Champion. He was the second man to bench press over 700 pounds [lb] (317.5 kg) and the second man to bench press over 700 lbs raw. James set numerous world records throughout his career, including the all-time world record in the raw (unassisted) bench press with 711 lb (323 kg).
Edward Coan is an American powerlifter. He is widely regarded throughout the powerlifting world as the greatest powerlifter of all time. Coan has set over 71 world records in powerlifting.
Alexey Vishnitsky honoured master of sports, champion of Europe, record holder of Europe, 2 times IPF powerlifting world champion, member of the team of strongmen of Ukraine. Multiple winner in the team among 105 kg. Took part in the TV show Fort Boyard in 2004 with Vasiliy Verastuks's team of strongmen.
Brad Gillingham is an American world champion powerlifter and strongman competitor from Minnesota, United States.
Liubou Bialova is a Belarusian weightlifter.
Vadym Dovhanyuk is an 11 times world champion powerlifter and World Games 2013 champion. He holds 36 unbeaten records in powerlifting and bench press. His personal records are squat – 410 kg, bench press – 335.5 kg, deadlift – 325 kg and total 1050.5 kg.
John Haack is an American powerlifter. He is the current world record holder in the raw 90 and 100 kilogram weight class. He set the previous 82.5 kg world record of 907.5 kg on August 3, 2019, at the age of 26 at the Tribute powerlifting meet in San Antonio, Texas. For this total, he squatted 312.5 kg, bench pressed 232.5 kg, and deadlifted 362.5 kg. This total beat his own previous records of 890 kg and 875 kg. The previous record holder in this weight class was Maliek Derstine, with a total of 862.5 kg on January 23, 2016.
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.
Brady Anthony Stewart is an American weightlifter. He was born on July 21, 1982, in St. Louis Missouri. Stewart is an 8-time US National Bench Press Team member for USA Powerlifting(Luxembourg 2009, Lithuania 2013, Sweden 2015, Denmark 2016, Lithuania 2017, South Africa 2018, Japan 2019, Czech Republic 2020[canceled due to Covid-19]). Stewart is the current American Record holder in the 120 kg / 264 lbs weight class with a press of 356.5 kg or 785.9 lbs. Stewart is the only lifter in US history to have medaled in IPF OPEN World Equipped Bench Press Championship competition in the 264 lbs weight class. He is also a member of the historic 2009 World Champion US National Bench Press Team.
Jarosław Olech is a Polish powerlifter.
Ana Rosa Castellain is a Brazilian powerlifter, seven-time world champion. She became the main Brazilian athlete active in the country after originally being inducted into the IPF Hall of Fame. She currently resides and trains in the city of Garopaba on the coast of Santa Catarina.
The Australian Powerlifting Union or APU, is the Australian national World Drug Free Powerlifting Federation affiliate. The APU was the Australian national International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) affiliate for the sport of Powerlifting between the years of 2018 and 2023. Formed in 2018 after Powerlifting Australia was removed from the IPF after Robert Wilks was not re-elected to the IPF Executive Committee, the APU has hosted local-, state-, national- and international-level competitions under the IPF ruleset and banner.
Chen Wei-ling 
Olga Golubeva 
Mary Macken 
Rie Kani 
Nataliia Kulinenko 
Steph Puddicome 
Aleksandra Otchenashko 
Maria Luisa Vasquez 
Heather Connor 
Hanna Rantala 
Stina Akemalm 
Noemie Allabert 
Veronika Broner 
Magdolna Petroczki 
Vilma Ochoa Vargas 
Joy Nnamani 
Andrea Riley 
Pleun Dekkers 
Evie Corrigan 
Maiara da Silva Dias 
Cicera Tavares 
Ivana Horna 
Tanja Stenholdt Olsen 
Carola Garra 
Marte Kjenner 
Marzena Piter 
Linda Pulsan 
Joyce Gail Reboton 
Kristín Þórhallsdóttir 
Sonita Kyen Muluh 
