The 2025 Powerlifting United (PLU) Nationals are set for the weekend of July 25-27 in Teaneck, NJ. The powerlifting meet features lifters representing 34 states and other countries. Fans who are not in New Jersey to watch in person can watch the action live on the PLU YouTube channel.
PLU was founded in September 2024 and is approaching its one-year anniversary. In the following interview, PLU president Ana Perez spoke with BarBend about the organization’s freshman year: its successes, its new color-coded system for missed lifts, and its future.
Editor’s note: the following interview has been lightly edited for readabliity.
BarBend: Evaluate PLU’s first year.
Ana Perez: It has been a great first year for us. We are coming up on our one-year anniversary, and already have presence in over 30 states. We have held over 120 sanctioned meets to date, including tested and untested meets.
Over 3,300 athletes have competed with us over the last nine months. We are just getting started.
BarBend: What are your biggest successes?
Ana Perez: We made advancements with the addition of ParaSports and Gender Neutral divisions. We believe strength is for everyone. Any lifter from Novice to Pro has a place on our platforms.
BarBend: Who have helped you during this first year?
Ana Perez: Our Vice President is Albert Alvarado, George Rochney is our Data Analytics Manager, and Chuck Anderson is our Partnership Manager.
Those are the titles, but we all do much more than that. We’ve all been in the sport for well over a decade. Our combined experience and deep involvement in powerlifting make the team special. We have state directors, referees, and judges who have all been a big part of what we have done since we started.
BarBend: PLU will institute a new color-coded light system at the Nationals meet. Why to take that step? What do you hope to accomplish?
Ana Perez: We are excited to launch this. Our rules committee worked hard to create a simplified way to explain the most common infractions for all three lifts. We are not the first to try something like this, but our goal is to provide an added layer of information to the athletes and coaches.
We have a jury system at the National and Pro meets. This color-coded card system is extremely useful for them. It will help improve overall flow at the meet. We want to help clarify to spectators who are watching and following along.
BarBend: What are fans and athletes are in for at Nationals?
Ana Perez: People are excited about this. We are giving $10,000 in cash prizes, and have put so much into making this event happen. This is about the experience for the lifters and fans. We are doing a lot with production, which fans will see when they watch it on our YouTube channel.
BarBend: Will the color-coded system be in use at all PLU meets?
Ana Perez: Yes, it will take time for it to reach all of our states, but we do intend to make it a common system for all PLU meets going forward.
BarBend: Any future PLU plans to share?
Ana Perez: We are working on developing the 2026 calendar, which will be released right after Nationals. We have plenty in store for all events at all levels.
We encourage all lifters to join us. We are here because we want to make a difference, and everyone on this team has been through a lot in the sport, good and bad.
We are here to do something different; to listen to the lifters who want to help us make things better for the entire sport.
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Featured Image: @powerlifting.united on Instagram
