Olympic weightlifting
Olympic weightlifting tests explosive strength and power.
Olympic weightlifting, also known simply as weightlifting, is a competitive strength sport in which athletes lift a barbell loaded with weight plates from the ground to overhead. The sport features two primary lifts: the snatch and the clean and jerk, with athletes competing in weight classes to determine the heaviest successful lifts.
- field
- Strength sport
- governing_body
- International Weightlifting Federation (IWF)
- key_lifts
- Snatch, clean and jerk
Lore & Background
Weightlifting competitions have been recorded throughout civilization, with early examples found in Egypt, China, India, and Ancient Greece.
Reader's Guide
Olympic weightlifting is distinguished from other strength sports by its focus on explosive power and a greater range of motion. The snatch is performed in one fluid motion, while the clean and jerk is a two-stage lift. Athletes get three attempts at each lift, with the snatch contested first. The total score is the sum of the heaviest successful snatch and clean and jerk in kilograms. The sport's governing body, the IWF, runs the World Weightlifting Championships annually. The Olympic lifts and their variations are used by elite athletes in other sports to train for explosive strength and functional strength.
Did You Know?
- In competition, two side judges and one head referee provide a 'successful' or 'failed' result; two successes are required for an attempt to pass.
- The Sinclair coefficient is used at local competitions to determine 'Best Lifter' awards, allowing comparisons across bodyweight and gender.
- If two athletes lift the same weight, the one who lifted it first receives the higher placing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two lifts in Olympic weightlifting?
Competitors perform the snatch, a single fluid motion from floor to lockout overhead, and the clean and jerk, which splits the lift into a pull to the shoulders followed by an explosive drive overhead. Each athlete earns three attempts per lift, and their best successful total within a weight class determines their final ranking.
Who governs Olympic weightlifting at the international level?
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) acts as the sport's global governing body. It establishes the rules, manages the anti-doping program, and coordinates the international competition calendar leading up to the Olympics.
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