Powerlifting claims to be one of the fastest growing Paralympic sports, and officials have lauched a late talent identification search for athletes with the potential to compete at London in 2012.

"This is a real opportunity for anyone currently training in a gym with weights to make the move into Powerlifting - and with it the opportunity to compete at the Paralympic Games in London 2012 and in future,” said World Class Lifting performance manager Fiona Lothian.

"We know there are people with disabilities who have all the attributes to compete at the highest level in Powerlifting already training in gyms.

"Perhaps they’re not aware of the sport of Powerlifting or do not see themselves as ‘athletes’, but we would like to make contact with them. If they are already lifting weights there is still a real opportunity for them to qualify for the London 2012 Paralympics."

While just 25 countries took part in the powerlifting competition at the Barcelona Paralympics in 1992, there are now 115 countries competing and 5,000 athletes, with the London Games set to be the biggest ever.

Paralympic powerlifting is adapted from non-disabled powerlifting, concentrating only on the bench-press movement.

For more details contact [email protected] or telephone 0113 812 7098.