When to watch para powerlifting during the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games
Para powerlifting events will be held from Wednesday, September 4 to Sunday, September 8 at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
Powerlifting is a bench press competition with only one sport classification. Paralympians compete in different weight classes.
An attempted lift consists of the athlete raising the bar off the rack followed by the referee’s command to lower the bar to their chest. The athlete must pause at the bottom of the lift, then press the weight upwards until their arms are fully extended. At which point the referee will determine if the lift is complete and issue a command for the weight to be returned to the rack.
Three judges then decide if the attempt was successful or unsuccessful. If required, an athlete has up to three attempts to complete a successful lift at a single weight.
To win is simple: lift the heaviest weight and you leave with gold.
Venue
The new, eco-inspired Porte de La Chapelle Arena will host para powerlifting competitions during the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
| Men's | Women's |
| Up to 49kg Up to 54kg Up to 59kg Up to 65kg Up to 72kg Up to 80kg Up to 88kg Up to 97kg Up to 107kg +107kg |
Up to 41kg Up to 45kg Up to 50kg Up to 55kg Up to 61kg Up to 67kg Up to 73kg Up to 79kg Up to 86kg +86kg |
Competition Schedule
| Date | Session | Time (ET) |
| September 4 | Session 1 Session 2 |
6a-9a 11a-2p |
| September 5 | Session 1 Session 2 |
6a-9a 11a-2p |
| September 6 | Session 1 Session 2 |
6a-9a 11a-2p |
| September 7 | Session 1 Session 2 |
6a-9a 11a-2p |
| September 8 | Session 1 Session 2 |
3a-6a 8a-11a |
Team USA: Para powerlifters to watch
The United States will be represented by two para powerlifters at the 2024 Paris Paralympics: Bobby Body and Ashley Dyce.
Body (yes, that is his real name), will make his Paralympic debut at age 50 competing in the men's 107kg weight class. The Michigan native had his left leg amputated above the knee in 2013 years after an IED struck a Humvee he was in while he was serving with the Army in Iraq. He is a certified peer support specialist, counseling other veterans and amputees with PTSD to help them overcome their obstacles. The 2023 Parapan American Games gold medalist heads to Paris ranked No. 4 in the world in his weight class.
Dyce, 37, is also making her Paralympic debut. She'll compete in the women's over 86kg competition in Paris, where she'll become the first female powerlifter to represent Team USA at the Paralympics since London 2012. Formerly a dual athlete also competing in Para track and field, Dyce eventually opted to focus solely on para powerlifting, in which she has made three world championships appearances.