United States Powerlifting (USAPL) 2005 Women’s National Championships

The United States Powerlifting (USAPL) 2005 Women’s National Championships are being held in St. Louis.  On Saturday and Sunday, February 5^th and 6^th, some of the strongest women in the nation will compete at the Holiday Inn Westport.  Doors open at 8:30 A.M. and competition begins at 9:00 A.M each day.  For more information contact Harold Gaines at 314-805-2044 or by e-mail at [email protected].

     Contestants range in age from 10 to 72 and are expected from every state in the United States.  Great Britain is sending their women’s team to compete so they can gain more experience in world-class contests.  The contest is drug free and a random 10% of lifters submit to drug testing.  These drug-free, amateur athletes are powerful role models in the world of competitive sports!  Their dedication, hard work, and winning attitudes are a testament to the purity of competition for the love of their sport.  In a world where steroids and other performance enhancing drugs have become the norm, USA Powerlifting stands apart.  Beauty and femininity have not been sacrificed at the expense of strength and many of the competing women have professionally modeled.

USA Powerlifting is the leading powerlifting organization in the United States. USA Powerlifting is a member of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), the governing body of powerlifting internationally.

Distinct from weightlifting, a sport made up of two lifts: the Snatch and the Clean-and-Jerk, where the weight is lifted above the head, powerlifting comprises three lifts: the Squat, Bench Press and Deadlight.  Athletes are categorized by age and bodyweight.  Each competitor is allowed three attempts at each lift, the best lift in each discipline being added to their total.  The lifter with the highest total is the winner.  In cases where two or more lifters achieve the same total, the person with the lightest bodyweight wins.

In the United States, USA Powerlifting has representative chairs in 48 states.  Each state chair is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of USA Powerlifting's local competitions, state championships, and state records.  USA Powerlifting operates as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.  More information is available at www.usapowerlifting.com or  http://www.usaplnationals.com/2005womens/index.html.