Which strength sport contests the squat, bench press, and deadlift?

The strength sport that contests the squat, bench press, and deadlift is powerlifting.

In a standard powerlifting meet, athletes attempt maximal weights in all three lifts. The squat tests the ability to lower and raise a loaded barbell while meeting depth and control rules. The bench press is performed lying on a bench, and the deadlift requires lifting a barbell from the platform to a standing position. A competitor’s best valid attempt in each event is added to create a total.

Powerlifting developed from mid-20th-century “odd lifts” competitions, which featured a wider assortment of strength exercises. By the 1960s, the squat, bench press, and deadlift had become the established combination. Meets may separate lifters by bodyweight, age, sex, and equipment category, including raw or unequipped and equipped divisions.

Powerlifting is often confused with Olympic weightlifting. Olympic weightlifting uses the snatch and clean and jerk, emphasizing explosive speed and technique. Powerlifting focuses on three slower maximal-strength lifts, while bodybuilding is judged mainly on physique and presentation rather than lifting totals.