The first AAU Powerlifting meets began around 1963 under the auspices of the Weightlifting program, but Powerlifting was soon recognized as a separate sport. It remained so until Powerlifting officially left the AAU in 1981 as a result of restructuring in the AAU, promoted by the Amateur Sports Act of 1978. With the tremendous interest that this sport has generated over the past thirty-plus years, Powerlifting returned to the AAU in 1995.

During this time period, the AAU program has registered several thousand athletes, recruited over 50 meet directors, sanctioned over 110 meets including several national and world invitational championships, and conducted the first-ever Powerlifting competition at the prestigious AAU Junior Olympic Games.