What must never occur when a lifter is performing any lift?

During a lift, it is critical that the lifter performs without any external assistance to ensure the integrity of the competition and the safety of the athlete. This principle is at the core of the sport's fairness and the accuracy of the results.

In powerlifting, the lifter is responsible for executing the lift entirely on their own, without support from coaches, teammates, or any external parties. This means that no one is allowed to physically assist the lifter by lifting weights or providing any physical support during the actual performance of the lift. The absence of external assistance helps maintain a standardized and unbiased competition environment, where each lifter's strength and technique can be objectively evaluated.

Other aspects mentioned, such as receiving instructions from coaches or ensuring that the barbell touches the platform, are permissible within the rules. Coaching can provide valuable guidance, and touching the barbell to the platform is a part of the lift's requirements. The presence of judges serves to assess the lift based on established criteria, which is an essential component of the competitive framework, as long as they do not provide assistance during the performance.