Power Athletes Set For Lift-Off At Upcoming Nationals 

Para-powerlifters will be chasing personal bests, national records and maybe even a place on Australia’s team for the World Championships in Egypt later this year when they compete at a new-look Para-Powerlifting National Championships on the Gold Coast on Saturday.  

Following the success of Hani Watson and Ben Wright, who at Paris 2024 led Australia’s return to Paralympic competition in the sport after more than a decade, a record 30-plus entrants will kickstart a new era in Australian Para-powerlifting at the Nationals, which also features a technical officials course and international classification. 

“As we get more people participating – when we get up to 30, 40, 50 people competing – we’re going to get more high performance athletes in the system,” Paralympics Australia Para-powerlifting head coach Simon Bergner said.  

“We’re already getting that just from awareness; people saying, ‘Oh, I already train at the gym. I can come and do Para-powerlifting and maybe compete at a high level or even on the world stage’. People can see a pathway now.  

“We’re going to hold three national events a year, more unsanctioned events and there’s going to be more opportunities now we have more staff involved.” 

In a first for Australia, the event will simulate the time frames used at major Para-powerlifting events, with weigh-in on Friday afternoon and competition the following day. The classification course will take place on Friday morning and technical officials from Malaysia will be on hand to support 13 locals who have been learning the skills of refereeing and scoring.  

“It’s going to be an action-packed week,” Bergner said.  

“We had 34 registered athletes, a couple aren’t able to make it, but we’ve still got close to 30. The most we’ve had is 17 back at the 2017 trials before the Commonwealth Games.  

“We’ve got some juniors, which is great to see. There are ages ranging from 15 all the way through to a 60-year-old athlete, which is awesome.” 

Bergner said Para-powerlifting was open to all ages. 

“It’s an ultimate test of upper body strength,” he said.  

“If you like the gym and you like feeling strong and empowered, it’s a great sport to be involved in. You can train and get to the point where you’re lifting double or triple bodyweight bench-pressing and, if you’re doing that, you’re going to feel pretty strong. If you enjoy routine, practicing and refining your skill, it’s a great sport for that.  

“This will be an electrifying event. There will be music playing, people going for personal bests, people going for new records. It’s exciting to be involved in.” 

Kim Ellwood, Paralympics Australia Para-Powerlifting General Manager Performance and Pathways, said the National Championships was exceptionally important from a whole-of-sport viewpoint.  

“Because of the new funding the sport’s received, it gives it that broader perspective to show the Australian Sports Commission has recognised the sport, which Paralympics Australia has embraced,” Ellwood said.  

“It’s a great opportunity for athletes in the lead up to LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 and an opportunity for the sport to get great exposure and to grow. It’s really a chance to grow the whole sport, with athletes, officials and classifiers.” 

High performance Para-powerlifters will be in action from 5.30pm. Medals will be presented at 7.30pm by Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Cameron Murray and the team for the World Championships will be announced at 7.45pm.  

Date: Saturday July 5 

Time: 4.30-8.30pm  

Location: RACV Royal Pines Resort, Ross Street, Benowa, Qld  

For more information on the event, click the link.

By David Sygall, Paralympics Australia.

Published 30 June, 2025.