Results:

Peak age (mean ± SD) was 35 ± 7 y for powerlifters and 26 ± 3 y for weightlifters, a large most likely substantial difference of 9, ±1 y (mean, ±90% confidence limits). Men showed possibly higher peak age than women in weightlifting (0.8, ±0.7 y; small), and a possibly lower peak age in powerlifting (1.3, ±1.8 y; trivial). Peak age of athletes who ever won a medal was very likely less than that of non-medalists in weightlifting (1.3, ±0.6 y; small), while the difference in powerlifters was trivial but unclear. Five-year improvements prior to peak age were 12 ± 10% for powerlifters and 9 ± 7% for weightlifters, a small possibly substantial difference (2.9, ±2.1%). Women exhibited possibly greater improvements than men in powerlifting (2.7, ±3.8%; small) and very likely greater in weightlifting (3.5, ±1.6%; small). Medalists possibly improved less than non-medalists among powerlifters (-1.7, ±2.3%; small), while the difference was likely trivial for weightlifters (2.3, ±1.8%).