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The USPF maintains a strong endurance of established existence and boasts an unparalleled lineage of all-time greatest legendary powerlifters that have competed to the highest standards of lifting. With its renowned world class status and reputation for excellence, the USPF is still the premier powerlifting federation.
The United States Powerlifting Federation (USPF) is a Not-for-Profit Corporation. The purpose and objectives of the Federation are to encourage, improve, and promote powerlifting in the United States. The USPF offers high standard, quality competitions for lifters ranging from the novice to world class status.
Sheri LeiLani Hartmann ~ USPF President
Vince Moser ~ USPF Technical Chair
Danni Hawks (Hartmann Eldridge)
Rickey Dale Crain
The United States Powerlifting Federation came into existence in the early 1970's as a "branch" of the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) and under Bob Hoffman. According to York's Museum/Hall of Fame, "the AAU relinquished the governing rights to powerlifting in 1978 when the United States Powerlifting Federation (USPF) was formed." Joe Zarella was its first President and it was also the U.S. affiliate to the IPF (International Powerlifting Federation). The USPF started "breaking away" from the AAU around 1980 and gained total independence from the AAU in 1981. (Official Corporation paperwork first filed in NH in 1981.) Official USPF documents still had "USPF of the AAU, Inc." printed on them throughout the early 1980's.
Around 1998 the USPF became an affiliate to the WPF (World Powerlifting Federation) until 2017.
In 2019, under the new President, Sheri Hartmann, Superior World Powerlifting -SWP was created and approved. It is a subdivision of the USPF to offer an opportunity to once again lift in a World venue and allows the USPF to maintain its independence.
The United States Powerlifting Federation is the oldest U.S. federation devoted just to powerlifting still in continuous existence today and keeps the same high standards of powerlifting, from rules to judging, as in its earliest years.
Being the oldest national powerlifting federation in the U.S., the USPF has a rich heritage of powerlifting and touts a legacy of the world's best powerlifters in history.
This page contains bits of history, photos, and our historians' blogs about the USPF.
Enjoy these incredible journeys & memories!
Are you interested in becoming a USPF Referee, Meet Director, or State Chair? Click below and tell us a little about yourself.
Get your USPF tee! (Men's Small - 5XL). Be sure to state size with payment. (Some sizes are temporarily out of stock.) Shipping included.
Be a card-carrying member of the Legacy of Legends by joining the USPF! You don't have to be a lifter to join.
There are many aspects of the USPF for those who wish to be involved or love powerlifting.
USPF "Supporter" Memberships are now available for non-competitors.
SAVE $$$ WITH SUBSCRIPTION AUTO-PAY!
The USPF offers affordable Memberships and Meet Sanctions.
SWP is a subdivision of the USPF to offer an opportunity to once again lift in a World venue.
Full Power
S/L Squat
S/L Bench Press
S/L Deadlift
Push Pull
Raw KS – Division 3 (no sleeves or knee sleeves only, no knee wraps)
Raw KW – Division 4 (knee wraps must be worn)
Both are Raw Divisions and follow the Rules for Raw. The difference is the use of knee wraps in Div. 4. Raw 4 is only available for Full Power & S/L Squat.
Single Ply - Division 1
Multi Ply - Division 2 (Monolift can only be used as a rack, swing arms must stay locked.)
Open: ages 13 and over
Preteen: 9-10 11-12
Teens: 13-15 16-17 18-19
Juniors: 20-23
SubMasters: 35-39
Masters: 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80+
Unlike most other powerlifting federations/organizations/associations, the USPF is a Not-For-Profit Federation. All Officials, Board Members, Chairpersons, Referees, etc. are volunteers. We rely on volunteers to keep the legacy going and promote the sport of powerlifting to generations to come. Let us know if you would like to be involved with the USPF. (You don't have to be a lifter.)
The USPF has a Records Database that includes Vintage Records from the early years to present. Click below to view the legendary USPF Records and obtain any necessary forms.
Be sure to get your USPF Membership before the event.
Don't forget to bring USPF Record Applications if you plan on breaking any Records.
Shawnee, OK
Sanctioned
Shawnee, OK
Colorado
Sanction pending.
Colorado
More coming soon!
Kennewick, WA
Kennewick, WA
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Sierra Vista, AZ
Sierra Vista, AZ
New USPF Rules updates for 2024 have been added and posted.
Reminder: Raw KW Division 4 is only offered in Full Power & Single Lift Squat.
Find out your Lifter Classification Ranking!
The United States Police & Fire Championships (California Association) used USPF Officials for powerlifting until the early 1990s. Lifters were also eligible for USPF Records. Some of these Inductees are USPF Officials and Lifters.
Copyright © 2013-2024 USPF the Legend - All Rights Reserved.
The United States Powerlifting Federation (USPF) - SWP is a registered Not-For-Profit Corporation.
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