Australia has been represented in weightlifting / powerlifting at every Games between 1964 and 2024, with the exception of the 2016 and 2020 games. Australian athletes have won a medal at every Games except 1984, 2012 and 2024. Paralympic powerlifting has been competed at every Summer Paralympics since 1984. Weightlifting had been on the Paralympic program since 1964, however after the 1992 Games the International Paralympic Committee made the decision to drop weightlifting and hold powerlifting events only.
Notable Australian athletes include: Vic Renalson, has won 3 gold medals and 1 silver medal in weightlifting events. He also won 2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals in athletics events. Brian McNicholl, has won 1 gold medal, 1 silver medal and 2 bronze medals in weightlifting and powerlifting events. Darren Gardiner, has won 2 silver medals.
Medal table
Summer Paralympic Games Australian representatives in weightlifting and powerlifting:
1964
Australia represented by: Men – Michael Dow, Gary Hooper, Vic Renalson
Australia won three silver medals. Medal Name Event Men's Featherweight Men's Lightweight Men's Heavyweight
1968
Australia represented by: Men – Gary Hooper, Vic Renalson Medal Name Event Men's Heavyweight
1972
Australia represented by: Men – Dennis Kay, Terry Mason, Vic Renalson Medal Name Event Men's heavyweight
1976
Australia represented by: Men – Terry Mason, Vic Renalson Medal Name Event Men's middleweight Men's light featherweight
1980
Australia represented by: Men – Barry Kalms, Brian McNicholl, John Sheil
Medal Name Event Men's lightweight −65 kg amputee Men's middleweight −75 kg paraplegic
1984
Australia represented by: Men – Brian McNicholl Australia did not win any medals. Brian McNicholl came 4th in his event.
1988
Australia represented in powerlifting by: Men – Michael Farrell, Matthew Pobje Australia represented in weightlifting by: Men – Ray Epstein, Brian McNicholl, Arnie Money, Paul O'Brien, Col Richards
Medal Name Event Men's 100 kg Men's 100 kg Men's 85 kg
1992
Australia represented by: Men – Ray Epstein, Steve Green, Brian McNicholl
Medal Name Event Men's 90 kg
1996
Australia represented in powerlifting by: Men – Willem Bos, Michael Farrell, Brian McNicholl, Richard Nicholson Coach – Blagoi Blagoev Medal Name Event Men's Up To 90 kg
2000
Australia represented in powerlifting by:
Men – Shaun Cavuoto, Darren Gardiner, Steve Green, Paul Hyde, Richard Nicholson, Kahi Puru, Wayne Sharpe Women – Deahnne McIntyre, Julie Russell, Vicky Machen, Kim Neuenkirchen, Melissa Trafela, Sue Twelftree Coaches – Blagoi Blagoev (Head), Ray Epstein
Medal Name Event Men's 60 kg
2004
Australia represented in powerlifting: Men – Darren Gardiner, Steve Green, Wayne Sharpe Women – Deahnne McIntyre Coaches – Martin Leach (Coach), Michael Farrell
Medal Name Event Men's +100 kg Gardiner originally finished third but was awarded the silver medal after Habibollah Mousavi gold medallist in +100 kg was disqualified after a positive doping test.
2008
Representing Australia in powerlifting: Men – Darren Gardiner, Abebe Fekadu Women – Deahnne McIntyre Coaches – Ray Epstein (Head Coach), Bill Nancarrow Medal Name Event Men's 100 +kg
2012
Selected team of 2 athletes. Men – Darren Gardiner and Abebe Fekadu. Coaches – Ray Epstein (Head) Darren Gardiner, a previous Games medallist competed at his fourth Games and Fekadu, a refugee from Ethiopia at his second Games. Australia did not win any medals.
2016 No athletes selected.
2020 No athletes selected.
2024
Selected team of 2 athletes: Men – Ben Wright (powerlifter) Women - Hani Watson Coach – Simon Bergner (Head)/
Australia did not win any medals.
See also Powerlifting at the Summer Paralympics Weightlifting at the Summer Paralympics Australia at the Paralympics
References