Strength Sports Australia
| Sport | Powerlifting |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Australia |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Affiliation | WDFPF |
| Affiliation date | 2024 |
| Headquarters | Queensland, Australia |
| President | Sean Muir |
| Board members | Sean Muir |
| CEO | Sean Muir |
| Official website | |
| powerlifting | |
 | |
Strength Sports Australia, previously known as the Australian Powerlifting Union or APU, is the Australian national World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation affiliate. The APU was the Australian national International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) affiliate for the sport of Powerlifting between the years of 2018 and 2023.[1] Formed in 2018[2] after Powerlifting Australia was removed from the IPF after Robert Wilks (president of Powerlifting Australia) was not re-elected to the IPF Executive Committee,[3][4] the APU hosted local-, state-, national- and international-level competitions under the IPF ruleset and banner.[5]
In November 2023 the APU announced that it was no longer maintaining IPF affiliation but would still run local competitions.[6] In December 2023 the APU announced that in 2024 it would affiliate with the World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation.[7]
History[edit]
The APU was established on 8 January 2018 by Sean Muir, David Cheung, Cameron Whittington and Scott Peisley.[2]
The APU was granted provisional status by the IPF in January 2018, before being accepted as a full member at the 2019 IPF General Assembly.[8]
In April 2024 Strength Sports Australia announced that they would be rebranding from Australian Powerlifting Union to SSA [9]
First Competition[edit]
The first competition hosted by the APU was the 2018 Bristow Open,[5] named after Maxwell Bristow, a multiple World Record holder.
First National Competition[edit]
The first national championship hosted by the APU was the inaugural National Equipped Powerlifting and Bench Press championship, held on 15 July 2018 in Penrith, NSW.[5] Thirty lifters from across Australia participated.[10]
International Competition[edit]
The Australian Powerlifting Union hosted two international competitions, the first being the 2018 Oceania Regional Powerlifting Federation (ORPF) championships, held in Queensland from 24 to 25 November 2018, with 83 entries from Oceania countries including Australia, New Zealand, Nauru and Papua New Guinea (and others).[11]
SSA Structure[edit]
Committees[edit]
The SSA is headed up by a board of directors. Due to the transition from APU to SSA and the change of affiliation to WDFPF the composition of board and committees has not been publicised.[12]
Legal Status[edit]
Strength Sports Australia Ltd. is Limited by guarantee and registered with ASIC.[13]
Recognition[edit]
International. The APU was recognised as a full member by the IPF in 2019.[8]
The APU announced their affiliation and recognition by the WDFPF on 27 December 2023[7] however this has not been publicly confirmed by the WDFPF.[14]
Sport Integrity[edit]
Anti-Doping[edit]
The Australian Powerlifting Union was a drug-tested federation and did not condone or allow the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The APU adopted Sport Integrity Australia's national anti-doping policy,.[15][16]
The World Drug Free Powerlifting Federation is not a signatory to the WADA code.
Competition Rules and Qualifying[edit]
SSA follows the powerlifting rules of competition as prescribed by the WDFPF.
Qualifying[edit]
Qualifying for SSA competitions under WDFPF rules is unclear.
International Competition[edit]
As a former member of the IPF, the APU sent teams to IPF regional and world championship events.
Notable Lifters[edit]
Under their IPF affiliation the Australian Powerlifting Union had multiple world record holders, including:
- Max Bristow - Men's Masters 3 (60-69) -66 kg Equipped Deadlift (235.5 kg)[17]
- Max Bristow - Men's Masters 4 (70+) -66 kg Equipped Deadlift (210.0 kg)[18]
- Helen Allen - Women's Masters 2 (50-59) -57 kg Deadlift record (183 kg)[19]
- Bethany Parker - Sub-Junior (14-18) Women -84 kg Classic Total (481.5 kg)[20]
- Ewan Belgrove - Sub-Junior (14-18) Men -83 kg Classic Squat (290.0 kg)[21]
- Peta Day - Masters 3 (60-69) Women -84 kg Classic Deadlift (160 kg)[22]
- Natalie Laalaai - Open Women 84+kg Classic Deadlift (268 kg)[23]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Australian Powerlifting Union Ltd". Australian Powerlifting Union. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ a b "History". Australian Powerlifting Union. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ English, Nick (28 November 2017). "Powerlifting Australia And Robert Wilks Are Out Of The IPF". BarBend. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ "Women in sport: How one woman's story shook powerlifting and toppled its most influential figure". 14 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ^ a b c "Results". Australian Powerlifting Union. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "Important Message from Australian Powerlifting Union". Australian Powerlifting Union. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ a b "The New International Affiliation as per 1 JAN 2024". Australian Powerlifting Union. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ a b Meeting Minutes - IPF General Assembly (PDF) (Report). International Powerlifting Federation. 2019.
- ^ "Important Message". 23 April 204.
- ^ "2018 APU National Equipped Powerlifting and Bench Press". openpowerliftng.org. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ "Results". Oceania Regional Powerlifting Federation. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "Executive and Non-Executive Committee". Australian Powerlifting Union. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Australian Securities & Investments Commission". Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ WDFPF. "Contact". Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Sports with an Anti-Doping Policy". Sport Integrity Australia. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "Code Signatories". World Anti Doping Agency. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "World Masters 3 Men's Equipped Records". Goodlift.info. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "World Masters 4 Men's Equipped Records". Goodlift.info. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "World Masters 2 Women's Equipped Records". Goodlift.info. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "World Sub-Juniors Women's Classic Records". Goodlift.info. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "World Sub-Juniors Men's Classic Records". Goodlift.info. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "World Masters 3 Women's Classic Records". Goodlift.info. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "World Open Women's Classic Records". Goodlift.info. Retrieved 9 July 2023.