The Decline of Team USA at IPF Worlds

At IPF Worlds last year, the American men and women's teams finished in ninth place and fourth place, respectively. This is the third consecutive year that neither team has placed in the top three at Worlds. No one on the men’s team placed in the top three.

Looking at previous Worlds results since 1996 (compiled below), the longest the men's team was out of the top three was two years (2002 and 2003), the longest for the women's team was three years (1997, 1998, 1999). The men's team last won the team title in 1996. The women's team last won in 2006 when Russia and Ukraine’s teams were under IPF suspension. (Only those infernal Slavs cheat, of course. Note also by the IPF’s own account in its 2011 General Assembly minutes, “...it continues to be the case that less than 40 percent of IPF nations comply with the requirement that they conduct a national level testing program.”)

This year’s totals at Worlds indicate an increasingly elite level of competition. In his write-up of the meet, Brad Gillingham remarked that “the SHW Class in 2011 was by far the toughest line-up in the history of the IPF.” Gillingham set a deadlift world record and placed eighth, his total significantly impacted by two squats turned down on depth.

As comparison, Gillingham won silver at 2007 Worlds, with a total of 2320 pounds and won bronze at 2010 Worlds with the same total. The super heavyweight bronze medalist at 2011 Worlds totaled 2364 pounds.

When it comes to threatening lifters with lawsuits, selective enforcement of disciplinary rules, and denial of due process, USAPL might be the world’s preeminent powerlifting federation. That form of “leadership,” however, is not conducive to restoring elite American performance at IPF Worlds. A change of priorities appears to be in order.

Team Results from 1996 to 2011:

  • 2011: Men's 9th, Women's 4th
  • 2010: Men's 4th, Women's 6th
  • 2009: Men's 8th, Women's 7th (World Games also held this year)
  • 2008: Men's 3rd, Women's 2nd (Russia under suspension and did not compete)
  • 2007: Men's 2nd, Women's 4th
  • 2006: Men's 2nd, Women's 1st (Russia and Ukraine under suspension and did not compete)
  • 2005: Men's 3rd, Women's 4th (World Games also held this year)
  • 2004: Men's 2nd, Women's 3rd
  • 2003: Men's 4th, Women's 2nd
  • 2002: Men's 4th, Women's 3rd
  • 2001: Men's 3rd, Women's 4th (World Games also held this year)
  • 2000: Men's 2nd, Women's 3rd
  • 1999: Men's 3nd, Women's 5th
  • 1998: Men's 3rd, Women's 6th
  • 1997: Men's 4th, Women's 4th (World Games also held this year)
  • 1996: Men's 1st, Women's 1st