What is Powerlifting?

Powerlifting measures absolute strength by lifting the most amount of weight in one repetition.  Athletes compete in three specific movements: the squat, bench press, and deadlift.  Each of these movements are designed to measure different areas of human strength.  In the sport of powerlifting, each athlete receives three attempts to reach their maximum capacity.  The heaviest attempts that are successfully achieved in each of the three disciplines are added together to form a total.  The total is what ranks powerlifters, so athletes must be proficient at all three lifts to rank successfully.