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Pound for pound, weightlifters are the “strongest” athletes at the Olympics. Years of intense training and technique refinement allow them to lift weights above their heads that most of us would be unable to lift even 1 inch off of the ground!

Lifting weights is “heavy” stuff so before you get started talk to your family doctor to make sure you won’t cause yourself any harm. Make sure you listen to what your doctor says, he or she will likely encourage you to visit a certified personal trainer to learn the fundamental techniques and exercises of weightlifting. Happy lifting!

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The goal of weightlifting is to lift the heaviest barbell over one’s head and hold the barbell while remaining motionless. The lift does not count until the lifter and the barbell are both completely still, at which point the referee signals the end of a lift.

There are two techniques used to lift the barbell: the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk.

• The snatch involves lifting the weight from the ground to above the head in one motion.
• The clean and jerk is a two-part lift. This technique involves lifting the weight from the ground to shoulder level, standing up straight, and then a jerk occurs where the athlete lifts the weight from her shoulder level above her head.

Athletes are divided into classes based on their body weight. The athlete that lifts the heaviest barbell successfully in each class is the winner in that weight class. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, there were 8 weight classes for the Men’s event and 7 for the Women’s event.

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What is the best sport to show off your muscles and strength? Weightlifting, of course! Weightlifting has been used to showcase an athlete’s strength and power for thousands of years and was a staple of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece. Weightlifting combines power, speed, technique, and mental focus as competitors attempt to lift barbells, often weighing more than twice their bodyweight, over their heads.

Men’s weightlifting was first included in the 1896 Olympics and has been consistently included in the Olympics since 1916. And, women’s weightlifting has been included in the Olympics since the 2000 Sydney Games.

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