Special Olympics: Powerlifting Sport Center

Powerlifting Sport Center

This page draws together powerlifting-related information for all of Special Olympics. The coaching materials and other links will help you get a good sense of how this sport contributes to Special Olympics.

Stories Events Games

Every athlete aims in lifting more weights than the opponent using specific moves. In Special Olympics Powerlifting is much more than deadlift, squat or bench press. It is effort, persistence and loyalty. Training, determination and attitude, are the key facts that define the balance between a successful or a failed attempt. The barbell, despite testing the physical strength, is also highlighting the athlete’s inner wish to improve, “not to make compromises”.

Coaching Guide

Downloads and Links

Powerlifting News and Stories

January 18, 2013 | SOI General: Headquarters

Powerlifting Center Updated

By William Awumey

Special Olympics Powerlifting resources go digital. Click the related web link to see the new site.View Story ▼Special Olympics Powerlifting resources go digital. Click the related web link to see the new site.

January 07, 2013 | North America: South Carolina

An Awesome Story

By Joshua Myers

I learned to swim through the Clover Special Olympics program and competed in the Special Olympics Aquatics program. Thanks to Special Olympics, I now have a paying job as a life guard at the Rock Hill Aquatics Center. I now life guard during Special Olympic swim meets!View Story ▼I have been competing in Special Olympics since I was 8 years old and before that, I participated in the Young Athletes program. I learned to swim through the Clover Special Olympics program and competed in the Special Olympics Aquatics program. Thanks to Special Olympics, I now have a paying job as a life guard at the Rock Hill Aquatics Center. I now life guard during Special Olympic swim meets! I have competed in many sports including powerlifting, aquatics and soccer, but power lifting is my favorite. We have coaches and we train just like any other athlete. Special Olympics has taught me to be brave and has given me the courage to do things I never thought I could do. I have Special Olympics to thank for where I am today. I am also trained as a Global Messenger for South Carolina! I competed in national and international levels also!

October 29, 2012 | SOI General: Headquarters

A First for Special Olympics Powerlifters

By Mandy Murphy

This year, for the first time in history, the International Powerlifting Federation offered a Special Olympics division in their World Championship competition in Puerto Rico.View Story ▼This year, for the first time in history, the International Powerlifting Federation is offering a Special Olympics division in their World Championship competition. The Special Olympics athletes who attend will be among the first ever to compete against top lifters from around the world in an IPF-sanctioned competition with IPF referees and IPF rules. The 2012 IPF World Men’s & Women’s Powerlifting Championships will take place in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico from 29 October – 4 November, and the first day of competition, Monday 29 October, will be dedicated to Special Olympics Powerlifting.

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Upcoming Powerlifting Events

Date	Event	Location
May 24 - 26 2013	Louisiana Summer Games Join us May 24-26 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 800 athletes will compete in athletics (track & field), bocce, powerlifting, and volleyball. For more information More DetailsView More	Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, Louisiana UNITED STATES
May 30 - Jun 2 2013	Missouri Summer Games Join us May 30 - June 2 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 2000 athletes will compete in athletics (Track & Field), aquatics, basketball, bowling, powerlifting and volleyball. For more information More DetailsView More	Columbia, Missouri UNITED STATES
May 30 - Jun 1 2013	Michigan Summer Games Join us May 30 - June 1 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 3500 athletes will compete in aquatics, athletics, bocce, bowling, gymnastics, horseshoes, powerlifting, volleyball and motor activities training program. For more information More DetailsView More	Central Michigan University Mt. Pleasant, Michigan UNITED STATES
May 30 - Jun 1 2013	New Hampshire Summer Games Join us May 30 - June 1 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 900 athletes will compete in aquatics, athletics, bocce, equestrian, powerlifting and tennis. For more information More DetailsView More	University of New Hampshire Durham, New Hampshire UNITED STATES
May 31 - Jun 2 2013	North Carolina Summer Games Join us May 31 - June 2 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 1200 athletes will compete in aquatics, athletics, gymnastics, powerlifting, softball and volleyball. For more information More DetailsView More	Raleigh and Cary, North Carolina UNITED STATES
May 31 - Jun 2 2013	Washington Summer Games Join us May 31-June 2 at Joint Base Lewis during our Summer Games event. Approximately 2500 athletes will compete in aquatics, athletics, basketball, tennis and powerlifting. For more information More DetailsView More	Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington UNITED STATES
May 31 - Jun 2 2013	Kansas Summer Games Join us May 31 - June 2 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 2000 athletes will compete in athletics, aquatics, tennis and powerlifting. For more information More DetailsView More	Wichita State University Wichita, Kansas UNITED STATES
May 31 - Jun 1 2013	North Dakota Summer Games Join us May 31 - June 1 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 650 athletes will compete in Unified volleyball, aquatics, gymnastics, powerlifting, bocce, and track & field. For more information More DetailsView More	Davies High School Fargo, North Dakota UNITED STATES
Jun 2 - 3 2013	Colorado Summer Games Join us June 2-3 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 1100 athletes will compete in track and field, soccer, swimming, gymnastics and powerlifting. For more information More DetailsView More	Grand Junction, Colorado UNITED STATES
Jun 6 - 8 2013	Wisconsin Summer Games Join us June 6-8 at University of Wisconsin during our Summer Games event. Approximately 1800 athletes will compete in aquatics (swimming), athletics (track & field), soccer and powerlifting. For more information More DetailsView More	University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Wisconsin UNITED STATES
Jun 7 - 8 2013	Virginia Summer Games Summer Games, our largest competition, is nothing short of legendary thanks to overwhelming support from thousands of local volunteers who brave the summer heat to assist Special Olympics Virginia athletes each June. Athletes come from all corners of the state to compete in swimming, powerlifting, softball, track & field, bowling and tennis. This event also features our annual Healthy Athletes expo, as well as fan filled stands, thanks to our Volunteer to Cheer program! Summer Games, one of Special Olympic Virginia’s seven state-level competitions, has been at UR since 1983; prior to that, the event was held in Lynchburg. For more information More DetailsView More	University of Richmond Richmond, Virginia UNITED STATES
Jun 7 - 9 2013	Indiana Summer Games Join us June 7-9 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 2600 athletes will compete in aquatics, bocce, bowling, cycling, horseshoes, powerlifting, track & field and volleyball. For more information More DetailsView More	Indiana State University Terre Haute, Indiana UNITED STATES
Jun 7 - 8 2013	Delaware Summer Games Join us June 7-8 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 800 athletes will compete in athletics, aquatics, bocce, powerlifting, softball, tennis, MATP and Young Athletes. For more information More DetailsView More	Newark, Delaware UNITED STATES
Jun 7 - 9 2013	New Jersey Summer Games Join us June 7-9 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 2500 athletes will compete in aquatics, bocce, gymnastics, powerlifting, softball, tennis and track & field. For more information More DetailsView More	The College of New Jersey Ewing, New Jersey UNITED STATES
Jun 7 - 9 2013	Alaska Summer Games Join us June 7-9 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 300 athletes will compete in athletics, aquatics, basketball, gymnastics, and powerlifting. For more information More DetailsView More	Anchorage, Alaska UNITED STATES
Jun 7 - 9 2013	Massachusetts Summer Games Join us June 7-9 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 1300 athletes will compete in athletics, aquatics, gymnastics, powerlifting, roller skating, tennis and volleyball. For more information More DetailsView More	Harvard Athletic Complex Boston, Massachusetts UNITED STATES
Jun 14 - 16 2013	Illinois Summer Games Join us June 14-16 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 3800 athletes will compete in aquatics, athletics, bocce, gymnastics, powerlifting and soccer. For more information More DetailsView More	Illinois State University Normal, Illinois UNITED STATES
Jun 14 - 16 2013	New York Summer Games Join us June June 14-16 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 1000 athletes will compete in athletics (track & field), aquatics, basketball, bowling, powerlifting, gymnastics, tennis and volleyball. For more information More DetailsView More	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York UNITED STATES
Jun 28 - 29 2013	Idaho Summer Games Join us June 28-29 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 900 athletes will compete in aquatics, basketball, cycling, powerlifting and track & field. For more information More DetailsView More	Boise Boise, Idaho UNITED STATES
Jun 28 - Jan 30 2013	Ohio Summer Games Join us June June 28 - 30 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 2600 athletes will compete in aquatics, athletics (track and field), bocce, bowling, cycling, gymnastics, power lifting, roller skating, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. For more information More DetailsView More	The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio UNITED STATES
Jun 13 - 21 2014	2014 USA National Games The USA National Games be centered in and around Princeton and the Greater Mercer County area. Venues will include Princeton University, Rider University, The College of New Jersey, and Mercer County Park. The New Jersey Devils have offered The Prudential Center as the venue for the Opening Ceremonies. The National Games will feature nearly 3,500 athletes competing in 14 Olympic-style sports, with the support of 1,000 coaches, 8,000 volunteers and an estimated 50,000 family, friends and spectators. Non-competitive special events will include the Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run™ that will symbolize the start of the competition and Healthy Athletes, a place where the athletes can get vital health screenings. Youth and education events will also be held in conjunction with the Games as young leaders rally around making change for the better of the Special Olympics movement and promoting acceptance of those with intellectual disabilities. For more information More Details Greg Epperson Email:gepperson@specialolympics.org Phone:919-785-0700View More	Several Locations - New Jersey Princeton, New Jersey UNITED STATES

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Powerlifting Competitions

2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games

Athens, Greece, was the home of the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games. That year, it was the world’s largest sporting event for athletes with intellectual disabilities. See results by athlete, delegation and bib number.

See the Results

Related Coaching Resources

How to Get Involved in Special Olympics

Special Olympics sports training, coaching and competitions go on in more than 170 countries around the world. You can get involved by getting in touch with the closest Special Olympics office.

Special Olympics near you»

Made Possible by The Annenberg Foundation

The Special Olympics movement is profoundly grateful for the support of the Annenberg Foundation which has underwritten the production of the coaches’ guides and resources, supporting our global goals for coaches’ excellence.

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