For the third year running, we are partnering with Canberra Fitness Expo to bring you ACTs Strongest 2026.
2 days, 6 hectic events, 1 pumping expo arena.
Athletes who have a below-the-knee amputation or other below-the-knee disability.
Overhead medley (Barbell, log, barbell, log)
Event 1: Overhead Medley
Time limit: 60 seconds to complete the Medley. Only 2 attempts may be taken on an implement.
Implements: Women- 20kg barbell, 10inch SorS log | 20kg Men- Barbell, 12inch SorS log
Equipment Allowed: Hard/soft belt, knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, wrist wraps (can be multiple), chalk/grip jizz, grip shirt, shoes must be worn.
Equipment not allowed: Tacky/belt grip, lifting hooks/straps, figure 6s and 8s, no headphones.
Other: Any item placed within the belt to provide a ‘shelf’ is not allowed
Start Position: All implements will begin on the floor, the Athlete starts at the lightest weight and must complete the medley in ascending order.
Successful lift: For a successful lift, the implement must be locked out overhead with the knees and hips fully extended, and the barbell/log positioned above the lifter’s body. The barbell/log must be under control, and the athlete must be completely still at the top of the lift and wait for the ‘down’ call from the ref. The implement must be returned to the floor under control, with hands remaining on it until it reaches at least waist height; otherwise, the rep will not be counted.
Scoring: Split timed
Athletes will carry farmers handles 10 meters, then backwards drag a sled 10 meters.
Event 2: Farmers into sled drag
Time limit: 60 seconds
Distance: Athletes will carry over a 10m + 10m course- drops allowed
Equipment Allowed: Hard/soft belt, knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, wrist wraps, chalk/grip jizz, shoes must be worn.
Equipment not allowed: Tacky/belt grip, lifting hooks/straps, figure 6s and 8s, grip shirt, no headphones.
Start Position: Athletes will start on the farmers and may start with their hands on the implement.
Successful lift:
Farmers: Athletes must carry the farmers to the 10m marked line, with the mid section of the implement crossing the line. If an athlete drops the farmers its their responsibility to pick it back up and any weights that have fallen off. Wait for the refs ‘cleared’ call before moving to the sled drag. No dragging of the farmers.
Sled: The sled will then be backwards dragged to the 10m marked line, with the mid centre of the implement crossing the line. Wait for the refs cleared call to finish.
Scoring: Athletes will receive a completion time or a distance score if the course is not competed.
Athletes have 3 minutes to establish the heaviest deadlift possible
Time limit: 3 minutes
Attempts: Find your max weight in 3 minutes
Implement: 20kg barbell with steel plates
Equipment Allowed: Hard/soft belt, knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, wrist wraps, chalk/grip jizz, a minimum of socks must be worn, figure 6s.
Equipment not allowed: Tacky/belt grip, lifting hooks/straps, figure 8s, suits, grip shirt, no head phones.
Attempts: Nominate starting weight before you begin (loaders will have this loaded before you arrive on the platform). Once you complete your first lift, you will load your own next attempt. You can not lower your starting weight attempt but if you take a higher jump for an attempt and are unsuccessful, you can lower it for your next attempt. Example, starting weight- 200kg – successful- next attempt- 230kg – unsuccessful lift – next attempt 220kg.
Start Position: The athlete may begin strapped into the implement.
Successful lift: Athletes must wait for the “down” call at the top of the lift. The call will be given only when the athlete achieves a fully locked-out position, with knees and hips straight and shoulders aligned with the body (not rolled forward). If the implement is dropped, the rep will not count.
Scoring: Heaviest weight lifted wins, split points for same weight lifted.
Athletes will bench press as many reps as possible in a 60 second time limit
Time limit: 60 seconds
Equipment - Standard general purpose Cerberus barbell, with plates only until 100kg, and a combination of 4WD wheels and plates for weights over 100kg.
Attempts: AMRAP
Equipment Allowed: Hard/soft belt, knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, wrist wraps, chalk/grip jizz, must wear shoes.
Equipment not allowed: Tacky/belt grip, lifting hooks/straps, figure 6s and 8s, grip shirt, no headphones, bench shirts, sling shots.
Other: Any item placed within the belt to provide a ‘shelf’ is not allowed
Start Position: Athletes will set their preferred rack height on day one and record it. This will be set before the athlete comes to the platform.
Once in position, the ref will call ‘unrack’. The athlete will unrack the bar. Once the athlete is stable, the ref will call press. The 60 second time limit will commence on the first press call.
Successful lift: Athletes will NOT receive a press call at the bottom of the movement, the bar will simply need to come into clear contact with the torso and then be pressed to lockout. The athlete will receive a PRESS command at the top of the movement, they will need to wait for this call before commencing the next press.
If the rep does not contact the torso, the ref will indicate a no rep before giving the next press command.
While some leniency for the athletes butt lifting off the bench will be allowed, a clear and sustained lift in order to shorten the range of motion will be deemed a no rep.
If the bar is rested on the face savers or re-racked, the run is completed and cannot be continued.
Scoring: Most reps wins
Athlete will carry a safe as far as possible in 60 seconds, using a 10m course.
Time limit: 60 seconds
Distance: Athletes will carry over a 10m course – no drops
Equipment Allowed: Hard/soft belt, knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, wrist wraps, chalk/grip jizz, shoes must be worn.
Equipment not allowed: Tacky/belt grip, lifting hooks/straps, figure 6s and 8s, grip shirt, no headphones.
Other: Any item placed within the belt to provide a ‘shelf’ is not allowed
Start Position: Athletes may start with their hands on the implement but not lapped or moved.
Successful lift: Athletes must carry the safe with their arms around the main body of the implement. Hand may be under the safe, but not arms. The implement cannot be carried on the athlete’s shoulder.
The safe may be re-lapped during the run, but once it contacts the ground at any point, the run is over. Athletes must touch a part of either of their feet over the line for the lap to be counted.
Scoring: Scoring will be counted by distance travelled. At either the end of the 60 seconds, or when the athlete fails, the implement must be placed down to the best of the athlete’s ability. An attempt to ‘launch’ the implement to gain a distance advantage will result in a penalty.
Athletes have 60 seconds to rep as stone to shoulder as many times as possible.
Time limit: 60 seconds
Implement: 2 weight options – any reps on the heavy option beats any reps on the light
Equipment Allowed: Tacky/belt grip, hard/soft belt, knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, wrist wraps, grip shirt, squat briefs, shoes must be worn.
Equipment not allowed: Lifting hooks/straps, figure 6s and 8s, chalk/grip jizz, no headphones.
Other: Any item placed within the belt to provide a ‘shelf’ is not allowed
Start Position: Athletes start positioned standing over the stone – no hands on the stone
Successful lift: The stone must be lifted from the start position, lapped/rolled up to the athletes shoulder, the athlete then must show stability with the stone on their shoulder and one hand off the stone for a good rep to be called.
The stone be clearly on the shoulder, not cradled in the arm or resting on the chest.
The stone cannot be returned behind the athlete, the rep will be discounted if this is done.
The stone must come to a complete stop on the ground before the next attempt is taken. It cannot be ‘bounced’ back to the lap.
The athlete will not be able to continue the lift if they have lapped the stone once time is up.
Scoring: Most reps win.
Oct 17–18, 2026
Saturday · Sunday
Exhibition Park Canberra
173 Flemington Rd, Mitchell ACT 2911, Australia
A$150
Closes 11 Oct 2026