Editing Powerlifting (section)

===Early history===
The roots of powerlifting are found in traditions of [[strength training]] stretching back as far as the ancient Mayan civilizations and ancient Persian times. The idea of powerlifting originated in ancient Greece, as men lifted stones to prove their strength and manhood.<ref name="Cooper publishing group">{{cite book |last1=Paciorek |first1=Michael J. |last2=Jones |first2=Jefferey A. |title=Disability sport and recreation resources |url=https://archive.org/details/disabilitysportr0000paci |url-access=registration |year=2001 |publisher=Cooper publishing group |isbn=9781884125751 }}</ref> The modern sport originated in the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[United States]] in the 1950s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clayworth |first=Peter |date=September 5, 2013 |title=Story: Bodybuilding, weightlifting and powerlifting |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/bodybuilding-weightlifting-and-powerlifting/page-3 |website=Te Ara}}</ref> Previously, the weightlifting governing bodies in both countries had recognized various "odd lifts" for competition and record purposes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-02-04 |title=The History of Powerlifting |url=https://squatpressliftrepeat.wordpress.com/what-is-powerlifting/historyofpowerlifting/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=squat {{!}} press {{!}} lift {{!}} repeat |language=en}}</ref> During the 1950s, [[Olympic weightlifting]] declined in the United States, while strength sports gained many new followers. People did not like the Olympic lifts [[Clean and press|Clean and Press]], [[Snatch (weightlifting)|Snatch]] and [[Clean and jerk|Clean and Jerk]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.powerlifting.sport/federation/history.html|title=The History of the International Powerlifting Federation|last=Unitt|first=Dennis|date=2019-04-04|website=Powerlifting.Sport}}</ref> In 1958, the National Weightlifting Committee of the [[Amateur Athletic Union]] (AAU) decided to begin recognizing records for odd lifts.<ref name=":4" /> The first national competition was held in September 1964 under the auspices of the [[York Barbell|York Barbell Company]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The History of Powerlifting in the USA |url=https://grindergym.com/the-history-of-powerlifting-in-the-usa/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=grindergym.com}}</ref> York Barbell owner [[Bob Hoffman (promoter)|Bob Hoffman]] had been a longtime adversary of the sport, but his company was now making powerlifting equipment to make up for the sales it had lost on Olympic equipment.<ref name=":4" />

During the late 1950s, Hoffman's influence on Olympic lifting and his predominately Olympics-focused magazine ''Strength and Health'' were beginning to come under increasing pressure from [[Joe Weider]]'s organization.<ref name=":4" /> In order to combat the growing influence of Weider, Hoffman started another magazine, ''Muscular Development'', which would be focused more on bodybuilding and the fast-growing interest in odd lift competitions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Brief History of the '50s & '60s {{!}} Two Decades That Launched Modern Bodybuilding |url=https://www.musculardevelopment.com/news/the-mcgough-report/14362-a-brief-history-of-the-50s-60s-two-decades-that-launched-modern-bodybuilding.html |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Muscular Development}}</ref> The magazine's first editor was [[John Grimek]].<ref>{{Cite journal |date=April 1999 |title=Remembering Grimek |url=https://starkcenter.org/igh/igh-v5/igh-v5-n4-v6-n1/igh0504-0601i.pdf |journal=Starkcenter |pages=2}}</ref> During the late 1950s and early 1960s, various odd lift events gradually developed into the specific lifts of the [[bench press]], [[Squat (exercise)|squat]], and [[deadlift]], and were lifted in that order.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=History - International Powerlifting Federation IPF |url=https://www.powerlifting.sport/federation/history |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=www.powerlifting.sport}}</ref> Hoffman became more and more influential in the development of this new lifting sport and organized the Weightlifting Tournament of America in 1964, effectively the first USA National championships. In 1965, the first named USA National Championships were held.<ref name=":3" /> During the same period, lifting in Britain also had factions. In the late 1950s, because members of the ruling body (BAWLA, the [[British Amateur Weight Lifters' Association]]) were only interested in the development of Olympic lifting, a breakaway organization called the Society of Amateur Weightlifters had been formed to cater for the interests of lifters who were not particularly interested in Olympic lifting.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Dunn |first=Will Freeman |date=2018-01-10 |title=The History of Powerlifting |url=https://www.taylorsstrength.co.uk/the-history-of-powerlifting/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Taylor's Strength Training |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Although at that time there were 42 recognized lifts, the "Strength Set" ([[biceps curl]], bench press, and squat) soon became the standard competition lifts, and both organizations held Championships on these lifts (as well as on the Olympic lifts) until 1965. In 1966, the Society of Amateur Weightlifters rejoined BAWLA. The bicep curl was replaced with the deadlift to fall in line with the American lifts.<ref name=":4" /> The first British Championship was held in 1966.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History – BCPA Powerlifting |url=https://bc-powerlifting.com/history/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |language=en-CA}}</ref> During the late 1960s and at the beginning of the 1970s, various international contests were held. At the same time, in early November of each year and to commemorate Hoffman's birthday, a prestigious lifting contest was held. In 1971, it was decided to make this event the "World Weightlifting Championships".<ref name=":4" /> The event was held at 10 AM on 6 November 1971, in [[York, Pennsylvania]]. Most of the athletes were American lifters, since teams were not formed yet. There were also four British athletes, and one athlete from [[Jamaica]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=AAU World Powerlifting Championships |url=https://m.en.allpowerlifting.com/results/IPF/1971/aau-world-powerlifting-championships/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=AllPowerlifting}}</ref> All of the referees were American. Weights were in [[Pound (mass)|pounds]]. The lifting order was "rising bar", and the first lift was the bench press. There was no such thing as a bench shirt or squat suit, and various interpretations were held regarding the use and length of knee wraps and weightlifting belts. The IPF rules system did not exist yet, nor had world records been established.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />

In 1972, the second [[Amateur Athletic Union|AAU]] World Championships were held on 10 and 11 November. There were eight athletes from Great Britain, six from [[Canada]], six from [[Puerto Rico]], three from [[Zambia]], and one from the West Indies. With 67 lifters in total, 47 athletes were Americans. Lifts were measured in pounds, and the bench press was the first lift.<ref name=":4" /><ref name="WC1972 results">{{cite web|url=http://en.allpowerlifting.com/results/AAU/1972/aau-world-powerlifting-championships/?unit=lb|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116150551/http://en.allpowerlifting.com/results/AAU/1972/aau-world-powerlifting-championships/?unit=lb|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-01-16|title=AAU World Powerlifting Championships 1972 (results)|access-date=2012-10-01|website=En.allpowerlifting.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1972 AAU Men's World Powerlifting Championships |url=https://www.openpowerlifting.org/m/mags/plusa/1998-04-15-A |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Open Powerlifting}}</ref>