Special Olympics Powerlifting
Powerlifting America and Special Olympics have signed a Memorandum of Understanding bringing Special Olympics athletes onto the national championship platform.
The Partnership
Special Olympics athletes have lifted alongside the IPF since 2011. That partnership now has a formal home in the United States.
2011
Special Olympics International and the IPF form their partnership at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, leading to a Memorandum of Understanding for Special Olympics athlete involvement in IPF competitions.
2012
Special Olympics division contested at the IPF World Championships in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
2013
Special Olympics division contested at the IPF World Masters Championships in Orlando, Florida.
2024
Powerlifting America sends 19 Special Olympics athletes who are Powerlifting America members to the IPF/NAPF North Americans in Scottsdale, Arizona. Eight Special Olympics athletes compete at IPF Worlds in the same year.
2025
Powerlifting America and Special Olympics sign a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Special Olympics division at the U.S. national level. Attendance for Special Olympics participants is targeted for the Age Division Nationals.
2025
Powerlifting America sends 10 athletes to the IPF/NAPF North Americans in the Cayman Islands and 2 athletes to IPF Worlds in Iceland.
What Special Olympics Is
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Powerlifting is one of its contested sports, trained and delivered through Special Olympics Programs across the country, with athletes grouped by ability level, gender, and age so every competitor faces a fair field.
Under the MOU, those athletes have a place on Powerlifting America's national platform.
The Special Olympics Division at Classic Open Nationals
Special Olympics athletes compete in their own division at Powerlifting America Classic Open Nationals, judged on the national platform alongside every other division. Entry details are published with each year's championship.
Classic Open NationalsThree Things to Know
Fair Divisioning
Special Olympics competition groups athletes into divisions, focusing on ability level, age and gender, therefore allowing all competitors to have an equitable opportunity for success based upon their fellow competitors in the field. At Powerlifting America national events, the Special Olympics divisions are by gender, age and weight.
The Events
Special Olympics powerlifting contests the squat, bench press, and deadlift, individually and in combination events, under the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules.
Certified Coaches
Coaches working with Special Olympics athletes complete Special Olympics Level 2 certifications or higher, through their Special Olympics Program, as well as via key sport education partners and Powerlifting America.
How to Get on the Platform
1. Connect With Your Special Olympics Program
Special Olympics training runs through Programs in each state. There are 52 U.S. Programs, including Programs for the District of Columbia, and Northern and Southern California.
2. Train With a Certified Coach
Special Olympics connects athletes with Level 2 (and higher) certified powerlifting coaches and local competition.
3. Enter the National Division
Entry information for the Special Olympics division is published with each year's Powerlifting America Classic Open Nationals.