diff --git a/movement/io/load_c3d.py b/movement/io/load_c3d.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b0ab9b4c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/movement/io/load_c3d.py
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+"""Load pose data from C3D (optical marker) files."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import numpy as np
+import xarray as xr
+
+from movement.io.load import register_loader
+
+
+@register_loader("C3D")  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+def from_c3d_file(
+    file: str | Path,
+    fps: float | None = None,
+    **kwargs,
+) -> xr.Dataset:
+    """Load pose data from C3D files into movement's standard format."""
+    try:
+        import ezc3d
+    except ImportError as e:
+        raise ImportError(
+            "ezc3d is required. Install it with: pip install ezc3d"
+        ) from e
+
+    file_path = Path(file)
+    if not file_path.exists():
+        raise FileNotFoundError(f"C3D file not found: {file_path}")
+
+    try:
+        c3d_file = ezc3d.c3d(str(file_path))
+    except Exception as e:
+        raise ValueError(f"Failed to load C3D file. Error: {e}") from e
+
+    raw_points = c3d_file["data"]["points"]
+
+    if raw_points.size == 0:
+        raise ValueError("C3D file contains no marker data")
+
+    n_axes, n_markers, n_frames = raw_points.shape
+
+    xyz_points = raw_points[0:3, :, :]
+    shuffled_points = np.transpose(xyz_points, (2, 0, 1))
+    position_data = np.expand_dims(shuffled_points, axis=3)
+
+    try:
+        raw_labels = c3d_file["parameters"]["POINT"]["LABELS"]["value"]
+        if isinstance(raw_labels, str):
+            raw_labels = [raw_labels]
+        marker_names = [str(label) for label in raw_labels][:n_markers]
+        while len(marker_names) < n_markers:
+            marker_names.append(f"unlabeled_{len(marker_names)}")
+    except KeyError:
+        marker_names = [f"marker_{i}" for i in range(n_markers)]
+
+    if fps is None:
+        try:
+            fps = c3d_file["header"]["points"]["frame_rate"]
+        except KeyError:
+            fps = 100.0
+
+    time_coords = np.arange(n_frames)
+    space_coords = ["x", "y", "z"]
+    individual_names = ["individual_0"]
+
+    position = xr.DataArray(
+        position_data,
+        coords={
+            "time": time_coords,
+            "space": space_coords,
+            "keypoints": marker_names,
+            "individuals": individual_names,
+        },
+        dims=["time", "space", "keypoints", "individuals"],
+        name="position",
+    )
+
+    confidence = xr.DataArray(
+        np.ones((n_frames, n_markers, 1)),
+        coords={
+            "time": time_coords,
+            "keypoints": marker_names,
+            "individuals": individual_names,
+        },
+        dims=["time", "keypoints", "individuals"],
+        name="confidence",
+    )
+
+    ds = xr.Dataset(
+        {"position": position, "confidence": confidence},
+        coords={
+            "time": time_coords,
+            "space": space_coords,
+            "keypoints": marker_names,
+            "individuals": individual_names,
+        },
+    )
+
+    ds.attrs["source_software"] = "C3D"
+    ds.attrs["fps"] = fps
+    ds.attrs["ds_type"] = "poses"
+    ds.attrs["file_path"] = str(file_path)
+
+    return ds
diff --git a/tests/test_unit/test_io/test_load_c3d.py b/tests/test_unit/test_io/test_load_c3d.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e43f98fe1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_unit/test_io/test_load_c3d.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+"""Test the C3D loader functionality."""
+
+import pytest
+
+from movement.io.load_c3d import from_c3d_file
+
+
+def test_load_c3d_file_not_found():
+    """Test that the loader gracefully catches missing files."""
+    fake_path = "this_file_does_not_exist.c3d"
+    with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError, match="C3D file not found"):
+        from_c3d_file(fake_path)
+
+
+def test_load_c3d_invalid_file(tmp_path):
+    """Test that the loader gracefully catches corrupted C3D files."""
+    broken_file = tmp_path / "broken.c3d"
+    broken_file.write_text("This is definitely not a real C3D file.")
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Failed to load C3D file"):
+        from_c3d_file(broken_file)