Misplaced Pages

#887112

58-532: Olympic weightlifting is a specific type of weightlifting sport practiced at the Olympic Games , commonly referred to simply as "weightlifting". Other weightlifting sports include stone lifting, powerlifting , kettlebell lifting , and para powerlifting —the weightlifting sport practiced at the Paralympic Games . Different weightlifting sports may be distinguished by the different ways of lifting

116-515: A barbell ) with larger-diameter rotating sleeves on either end, holding rubber-coated weight plates of different weights. This sleeve rotation is important for the Olympic lifts, particularly the snatch and clean movements, because it drastically reduces the rotational inertia of the bar. Without sleeve rotation, the Olympic lifter faces more challenging lifts and a greater risk of injury. A men's Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg (44 lbs) with

174-407: A desire among women to avoid developing an appearance that is perceived as physically masculine, with a consequent focus on aerobic exercises over weightlifting activities. Another factor that has been suggested is that women who are interested in lifting weights tend to be uncomfortable in spaces dominated by men, which has been observed to cause women who do want to lift weights to take weights from

232-468: A full body " unitard " under the customary weightlifting uniform. Kulsoom Abdullah became the first woman to do so at the U.S. National Championships that year, and athletes are allowed to do so at the Olympics. IWF rules previously stated that an athlete's knees and elbows must be visible so officials can determine if a lift is correctly executed. Olympic weightlifting uses a steel bar (also known as

290-464: A one-piece close-fitting leotard often called a singlet . The wearing of a T-shirt underneath the singlet is optional. A weightlifting belt of 120 mm maximum width may also be worn to increase intra-abdominal pressure. Chalk is regularly used by Olympic lifters, generally prior to each attempt at a lift. Lifters rub their hands with the chalk to promote dryness and prevent the bar moving in their hands. Olympic lifters frequently use tape to cover

348-412: A raised heel of 0.5" to 1.5" and one or two metatarsal straps that tighten across the instep of the shoe. The raised heel helps the lifter maintain an upright torso while catching the bar and also allows for a deeper squat under the bar. The soles of the shoes are also quite rigid, helping to resist compression while under heavy loads. The shoes are designed for maximum stability while remaining flexible in

406-426: A shaft diameter of 28 mm and a length of 2200 mm, whereas a women's Olympic barbell weighs 15 kg (33 lbs) and has a shaft diameter of 25 mm with a length of 2010 mm. The distance between the sleeves, however, is the same for the men's and the women's bars at 1310 mm. The grip texture of the bar is called the knurling , and is distributed differently between the men's and women's bars:

464-404: A short intermission, and then the clean and jerk event. There are two side judges and one head referee who together provide a "successful" or "failed" result for each attempt based on their observation of the lift within the governing body's rules and regulations. Two successes are required for any attempt to pass. Usually, the judges' and referee's results are registered via a lighting system, with

522-413: A successful lift or during an unsuccessful one. Olympic bumper plates conform to international standards for coloring. That is, 10 kg is green, 15 kg is yellow, 20 kg is blue, and 25 kg is red. In addition to the rubber bumpers, smaller competition iron plates can be used to add weight in small increments to the bar. The color designations for these iron plates are as follows: 1 kg

580-480: A taped wrist enables the lifter to regulate wrist extension and delimit the translation of the radius and ulna distal heads. However, while taped wrists can prevent wrist and forearm injuries in the short-term, excessive use can lead to weakened connective tissue in the area, increasing the risk of pain and injury. The type of shoes worn by Olympic weightlifters is perhaps their most distinctive piece of equipment. Weightlifting shoes are typically designed with

638-493: A type of exercise using weights to increase muscle strength, and in bodybuilding, a form of body modification for aesthetic reasons. Strength training, bodybuilding, and working out to achieve a general level of physical fitness have all historically been closely associated with weightlifting. Weightlifting is very beneficial for health in countless ways. Weightlifting induces the production of collagen proteins which helps build structure and strength of tendons and ligaments. It also

SECTION 10

#1732798616888

696-568: A weight, and/or the objects lifted. Weightlifting events are key elements of strength athletics . Weight training is weightlifting to develop physical strength and/or a muscular physique. It is a common part of strength conditioning for athletes in many sports. When the primary goal is to develop an all-round muscular physique, this is bodybuilding . People who train with weights utilize both free weights (such as barbells, dumbbells, and kettlebells ) and weight machines to train all parts of their bodies. A place and equipment for weight training

754-428: A white light indicating a "successful" lift and a red light indicating a "failed" lift. This is done for the benefit of all in attendance, be they athlete, coach, administrator, or audience. In addition, one or two technical officials may be present to advise during a ruling. Lifters who fail to successfully complete at least one snatch and at least one clean and jerk fail to total , and receive an "incomplete" entry for

812-516: Is Gaston Parage, from Luxembourg . The first president of the federation was Robert Christ. The IPF is the largest powerlifting federation in the world. IPF is a drug-tested powerlifting federation that restricts supportive equipment in both equipped and raw competitions to an approved list which is updated from time to time. Typically in equipped competition the usage is limited to single-ply polyester shirts and suits with wrist and knee wraps while soft suits and neoprene knee sleeves are permitted in

870-537: Is a tradition in Scotland of weight lifting competitions in Scottish Highland Gatherings , which have been annual events since the 1820s; and these contests are forerunners of modern strength athletics . When in 1896 the modern international Olympic Games began, weight lifting was an event at the first Games; and since 1920 weightlifting has been a regular part of the Olympics. By 1932

928-408: Is a wide-grip lift, in which the weighted barbell is lifted overhead in one motion. The clean and jerk is a combination lift, in which the weight is first taken from the ground to the front of the shoulders (the clean ), and then from the shoulders to over the head (the jerk ). The sport formerly included a third lift/event known as clean and press . Each weightlifter gets three attempts at both

986-634: Is competed at local, national, and international levels. The sport is governed internationally by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), which runs the World Weightlifting Championships each year. The snatch is a lift wherein an athlete sweeps the barbell up and overhead in one fluid action: the lifter takes a wide-grip on the bar and pulls the barbell off the floor before rapidly re-bending their knees to get themself under

1044-645: Is favored by bodybuilders more than myofibrillar hypertrophy, which builds athletic strength. Sarcoplasmic hypertrophy is triggered by increasing repetitions, whereas myofibrillar hypertrophy is triggered by lifting heavier weight. Weightlifting purely to develop physical strength can lead to the development of a very different body type than weightlifting for bodybuilding, with powerlifters and Olympic weightlifters tending to have endo-mesomorphic bodies, and bodybuilders tending to be more mesomorphic. The two main methods of weight lifting to build strength and muscle mass are hypertrophy and overload. Training for muscle size

1102-435: Is green, 1.5 kg is yellow, 2 kg is blue, 2.5 kg is red, 5 kg and 0.5 kg are white. It is useful to note the color assignment of these iron plates is consistent with the heavier bumper plates (i.e. 1 kg and 10 kg are green, 1.5 kg and 15 kg are yellow, etc.). Weight plates are secured to the bar using collars on each side that weigh exactly 2.5 kg each. Lifters typically wear

1160-492: Is officially named "weightlifting", the terms "Olympic weightlifting" and "Olympic-style weightlifting" are often used to distinguish it from the other sports and events that involve the lifting of weights , such as powerlifting , weight training , and strongman events . Similarly, the snatch and the clean and jerk are known as the "Olympic lifts". While other strength sports test limit of strength, Olympic-style weightlifting also tests limits of human power (explosive strength):

1218-399: Is optimal for promoting and improving joint stability. Weightlifting can also increase metabolism and increases resting metabolic rate. This means the body can burn calories faster and the body uses those calories to increase and build muscle mass. However, it is possible to engage in a training regimen for any of these purpose using exercises or equipment other than weights. Conversely, because

SECTION 20

#1732798616888

1276-402: Is practiced). Its international governing body is the International Weightlifting Federation , which was founded in 1905. The 1950s and 1960s saw the sport of powerlifting developing, originating in competitions where athletes competed in different lifting events to those at the Olympics. These different lifts were sometimes called "odd lifts". Previously, the weightlifting governing bodies in

1334-724: Is provided at gyms and leisure centres . According to an article in The New York Times , lifting weights can prevent some disabilities, increase metabolism, and lower body fat. Using free weights, compared to machines, improves not only strength but muscle function as well, in high-functioning older adults. Competitive weightlifting is believed to pre-date written history. There are records in many civilizations of feats of strength performed by great heroes, perhaps mythological, such as Heracles , Goliath , Orm Storolfsson and Milo of Croton . In Ancient China and Greece, men lifted stones to prove their strength and manhood. There

1392-418: Is the replacement of cardio regimes with weightlifting for several reasons such as pursuing their idea of a perfect body, female empowerment, and plain enjoyment. Weightlifters are prone to various injuries, and understanding common lifting weights injuries is crucial for the prevention and effective management of the risk of injury. A study found that the most common weightlifting injuries (64.8%) occurred in

1450-404: Is usually done by achieving hypertrophy which is training with a lighter weight at higher volume or more repetitions. Muscle size increases due to metabolic fibers that result in visible muscle mass growth. Training muscles to build strength is typically achieved by the overload method. Overload involves training with increasing weight at each set. It can also mean increasing volume of repetitions at

1508-415: The snatch , the clean and press , and the clean and jerk . The 1972 Olympics was the last Olympics featuring the clean and press , as difficulties in judging proper form led to it being dropped from subsequent competitions. Athletes, rather than "strictly" pressing the weight overhead with an upright torso, had been using their hips and leaning backward substantially. Some athletes were able to initiate

1566-554: The toe box . This allows the lifter to come up on the toes and to catch the weight on the ball of the back foot during the "jerk" movement of the lift. There are also different heel constructions. Most modern Weightlifting shoes use a hard TPU plastic heel that does not deform and is more durable than other materials. However, there has been a resurgence in premium shoes using retro wood heels which are hard but do not last as long. Knee sleeves Some weightlifters may use knee sleeves to provide joint support and assist in standing from

1624-629: The "Best Lifter" award. Competitions to establish who can lift the heaviest weight have been recorded throughout civilization, with the earliest known recordings including those found in Egypt, China, India, and Ancient Greece. The international sport of weightlifting began with the First World Weightlifting Championships in 1891, in London, with Edward Lawrence Levy becoming the first world champion. In 1896,

1682-481: The 'one hand' clean and jerk and the 'two hands' clean and jerk. At the next Olympic Games, in Paris, in 1924 , the 'two hands' press and the 'two hands' snatch were added to the program, making a total of five lifts; and weight classes were introduced for competitors, with weightlifters competing in five weight divisions. In 1928 , the sport dropped the 'one hand' exercises, going forward with three 'two hand' exercises:

1740-581: The Games of 1900, 1908 and 1912 (1912 being the last Games until after the First World War). In 1920, weightlifting returned to the Olympics and, for the first time, as an event in its own right – and weightlifting has been contested at every (summer) Olympics Games since. The 1920 Games took place at Antwerp in Belgium; and fourteen nations competed. The competition lifts were the 'one hand' snatch,

1798-407: The Olympic competition comprised three lifts, all of which are different ways of lifting a weighted barbell from ground to overhead: namely the snatch , the clean and jerk , and the clean and press . The snatch is a wide-grip lift, in which the barbell is lifted overhead in one motion. The clean and jerk and the clean and press are combination lifts in which the weight is first taken from

Weightlifting - Misplaced Pages Continue

1856-411: The Olympic lifts are executed faster, and require more mobility and a greater range of motion during their execution, than other barbell lifts. The Olympic lifts, and their variations (e.g., power snatch, power clean) as well as components of the Olympic lifts (e.g., cleans, squats ) are used by elite athletes in other sports to train for both explosive strength (power) and functional strength. The sport

1914-630: The United Kingdom and the United States had recognized various "odd lifts" for competition and record purposes. Eventually these competitions became standardized to three specific lifts: the squat , bench press , and deadlift ; and this form of weightlifting sport was given its distinct name of powerlifting , with the International Powerlifting Federation being formed in 1972 to regulate and promote

1972-402: The areas of their bodies exposed to friction while completing Olympic lifts. Tape is most commonly found on the Olympic lifter's thumb. A taped thumb not only lessens the risk of calluses, but it also reduces the pain associated with the hook grip . Olympic lifters also tape their wrists, preventing exaggerated and uncomfortable joint movement during lifts. For particularly heavy overhead lifts,

2030-430: The back (especially the lower back), knees, and shoulders. Olympic weightlifting Weightlifting (often known as Olympic weightlifting ) is a competitive strength sport in which athletes compete in lifting a barbell loaded with weight plates from the ground to overhead, with the aim of successfully lifting the heaviest weights. Athletes compete in two specific ways of lifting the barbell overhead. The snatch

2088-427: The barbell (usually bringing themself into a deep overhead squat position), so that the barbell is supported over their head with arms outstretched. The snatch is then completed by the lifter rising to a standing position while holding the barbell overhead. The snatch demands precise balance. The clean and jerk is a combination lift, in which the athlete gets the barbell overhead in two stages: first by lifting

2146-401: The barbell into support on the front of the shoulders, a position known as the front rack ( the clean ), and then lifting it from shoulders to overhead ( the jerk ). To perform the clean , the lifter takes a shoulder-width grip on the bar and pulls it off the floor, and then rapidly re-bends their knees (and bends their arms) to get their body under the barbell and "catch" the bar on the front of

2204-551: The classic powerlifting division (referred to as unequipped or raw competition). The first world weightlifting championship was held in 1971 with rarely anyone from outside the U.S appeared. In 1972, the second world weightlifting championship event was held by the Amateur Athletic Union leading to the creation of the IPF. The IPF split from its long time affiliation with USAPL in 2021 and Powerlifting America became

2262-438: The competition. At local competitions, a "Best Lifter" title is commonly awarded. It is awarded to both the best men's and women's lifters. The award is based on a formula which employs the " Sinclair coefficient ", a coefficient derived and approved by the sport's world governing body, which allows for differences in both gender and bodyweight. When the formula is applied to each lifter's overall total and then grouped along with

2320-589: The deep squatting position. Wrist wraps Wrist wraps are commonly used to provide support to the joint. International Powerlifting Federation The International Powerlifting Federation is an international governing body for the sport of powerlifting as recognized by the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). The IPF was founded in 1972, and comprises member federations from more than one hundred countries with new ones being added yearly. The current IPF president

2378-603: The feet are prohibited. It was discontinued after 1972 due to difficulties in judging proper form. Athletes compete in a division determined by their body mass . In summer 2018, the IWF approved the current weight categories, specifying which 7 of the 10 total would be contested at the 2020 Summer Olympics . IWF Men's weight classes: Categories Only five weight classes were chosen for Paris 2024: IWF Women's weight classes: Categories Weight classes chosen for Paris 2024: In each weight division, lifters compete in both

Weightlifting - Misplaced Pages Continue

2436-403: The goal of bodybuilding is often to generate a particular appearance, a person who engages in weightlifting only to increase strength, or for competitive purposes, may not achieve the physical appearance sought in bodybuilding. Weight training aims to build muscle by prompting two different types of hypertrophy : sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar. Sarcoplasmic hypertrophy leads to larger muscles and so

2494-537: The ground to the front of the shoulders (the clean ), and then from the shoulders to overhead (the first using a jerk , the second an overhead press ). After 1972 the clean and press was discontinued because of difficulties in judging proper form. Today, the snatch and the clean and jerk are together known as the "olympic lifts"; and the sport of weightlifting as practiced at the Olympics can be called "olympic weightlifting" or "olympic-style weightlifting" to distinguish it from other weightlifting sports (wherever it

2552-487: The inaugural Olympic Games in Athens included weightlifting in the field event (the predecessor to today's track and field or athletics event). In the early Olympic Games, a distinction was drawn between lifting with 'one hand' only and lifting with 'two hands', and all competitors competed together regardless of their size and weight. The winner of the 'one hand' competition in 1896 was Launceston Elliot of Scotland, while

2610-427: The lifter re-straightens the legs (bringing them together after a split jerk ) so they come to a straight standing position with the barbell held overhead. A third lift, the clean and press , was also a competition lift from 1924 through 1972. It entails a clean followed by an overhead press . The overhead press is distinguished from the jerk , in that jerking movements, bending of the legs, and displacement of

2668-408: The men's has knurling in the center but the women's does not. The Olympic barbells used in competition are certified by the IWF. The weight plates, typically referred to as " bumper plates " because of their rubber coated design, weigh between 10 kg and 25 kg in 5 kg increments. The bumper plates are coated with rubber to allow the weights to be dropped from various heights—either after

2726-502: The other competitors' and evaluated, it provides a numeric result which determines the competition's best overall men's and women's lifters. And while, usually, the winner of the heaviest weight class will have lifted the most overall weight during the course of a competition, a lifter in a lighter weight class may still have lifted more weight both relative to their own bodyweight, and to the Sinclair coefficient formula, thereby garnering

2784-402: The press with a hip thrust so rapid that judges found it difficult to determine whether or not they had utilized any knee bend to generate additional force, something strictly prohibited in the rules. Also prohibited was "excessive layback" (leaning back too much), but it was considered too difficult to determine what degree of layback constituted a rule violation. As a result, the clean and press

2842-433: The previous weight or any other intermediate weights. The barbell is loaded incrementally and progresses to a heavier weight throughout the course of competition. Weights are set in 1-kilogram increments. If two athletes lift the same weight, they are both credited with it, but in terms of placing, the one who lifted the weight first gets the highest placing. During competition, the snatch event takes place first, followed by

2900-402: The same weight for each set. Both overload methods are optimal for building muscle mass and strength, however, lifting heavy weights at a lower volume or less repetitions is very optimal for building strength. It has historically been observed that weightlifting both for health and for appearance is substantially more common among men than among women. A primary reason for this dichotomy has been

2958-411: The shoulders (usually in a deep front squat position). The lifter finishes the clean by rising to a standing position while holding the barbell on the front of their shoulders. The lifter then uses the jerk to jump into a bent knees position (most commonly with one foot forward and the other back, a technique known as the split jerk ) while pumping the barbell overhead . The jerk is completed when

SECTION 50

#1732798616888

3016-405: The snatch and the clean and jerk, with the snatch attempted first. An athlete's score is the combined total of the highest successfully-lifted weight in kilograms for each lift. Athletes compete in various weight classes, which are different for each sex and have changed over time. Weightlifting is an Olympic sport , and has been contested in every Summer Olympic Games since 1920. While the sport

3074-439: The snatch and the clean and jerk. Prizes are usually given for the heaviest weights lifted in each and in the overall—the maximum lifts of both added. The order of the competition is up to the lifters—the competitor who chooses to attempt the lowest weight goes first. If they are unsuccessful at that weight, they have the option of reattempting at that weight or trying a heavier weight after any other competitors have made attempts at

3132-409: The sport. In 1964 weightlifting debuted in the Paralympic Games , in the form of the bench press; and since the 1992 Games has been called powerlfiting, specifically Para powerlifting or Paralympic powerlifting. Strength training is also recorded as far back as ancient Greek and ancient Persian times. Weightlifting is used as an end to achieve different goals. For example, in weight training ,

3190-440: The weight room to another part of the gym to work out, therefore using smaller weights and for shorter times. The prevalence of males in weightlifting is reinforced by marketing that depicts weightlifting as a primarily male activity. In recent times however, the practice of bodybuilding has become more feminized. Some gyms have reported that the female percentage of their clientele has risen to over 50%. A new common trend among women

3248-509: The winner of the 'two hands' event was Viggo Jensen of Denmark. Further World Weightlifting Championships followed in 1898 in Austria, 1899 in Milan, and 1903 in Paris, with the International Weightlifting Federation being founded in 1905. Weightlifting was next contested at the Olympics in the 1904 Games (again in athletics), and at the 1906 Intercalated Games , but was omitted from

3306-515: The winners in that first year. Yet it was not until the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, that women's weightlifting was incorporated into the Olympics. China's Chen Yanqing became an early star of women's weightlifting at the Olympics—as she won Olympic gold two games in a row, in 2004 and 2008. In 2011, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) ruled that athletes could wear

3364-463: Was discontinued as a competition lift after 1972. Since the 1973 World Weightlifting Championships , weightlifting competitions have been biathlons of the snatch and the clean and jerk, with the 1976 Olympics being the first Olympics in this format. In 1987, women's world championship events were included for the first time in IWF's annual World Weightlifting Championships , with women such as Karyn Marshall (US) and Cai Jun (China) amongst

#887112