Olympic weightlifting
Olympic weightlifting tests explosive strength and power.
Olympic weightlifting, often referred to simply as weightlifting, is a strength sport where competitors lift a barbell loaded with weight plates from the ground to a position overhead. The sport is distinguished by two specific lifts: the snatch and the clean and jerk. In the snatch, the athlete uses a wide grip to pull the barbell from the floor to an overhead position in one continuous, fluid motion, typically dropping into a deep overhead squat to catch the bar before standing upright. The clean and jerk is a two-part lift: first, the lifter pulls the barbell from the ground to the front of the shoulders (the clean), often catching it in a deep front squat; second, the lifter drives the barbell from the shoulders to full arm extension overhead (the jerk), commonly using a split jerk technique where one foot moves forward and the other back. Historically, a third lift called the clean and press was contested from 1924 until 1972, but it was removed due to difficulties in judging proper form, as it prohibited leg bending or foot movement.
Athletes are given three attempts for each lift, with the snatch performed first. Their final score is the combined total, in kilograms, of their heaviest successful snatch and their heaviest successful clean and jerk. Competitors are divided into weight classes, which differ for men and women and have been revised over time. The sport has been a part of every Summer Olympic Games since 1920, and the terms "Olympic weightlifting" or "Olympic-style weightlifting" are used to differentiate it from other weight-based sports like powerlifting or strongman. Unlike those sports, which primarily test limit strength, Olympic weightlifting emphasizes explosive power, requiring greater speed, mobility, and range of motion. Consequently, the Olympic lifts and their variations are used by elite athletes in other sports to develop both explosive strength and functional strength. The sport is governed internationally by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), which organizes the annual World Weightlifting Championships, and is contested at local, national, and international levels.
- field
- Strength sport
- governing_body
- International Weightlifting Federation (IWF)
- key_lifts
- Snatch, clean and jerk
Lore & Background
Weightlifting, often called Olympic weightlifting to distinguish it from other strength sports, is a competitive discipline where athletes lift a barbell loaded with weight plates from the ground to overhead. The sport features two primary lifts: the snatch, performed with a wide grip in one continuous motion, and the clean and jerk, a two-stage lift where the barbell is first brought to the front of the shoulders (the clean) and then thrust overhead (the jerk). A third lift, the clean and press, was part of competition from 1924 until 1972, when it was removed due to difficulties in judging proper form. Athletes compete in weight classes determined by body mass, which differ for men and women and have been revised over time. Each lifter receives three attempts in the snatch and three in the clean and jerk, with the snatch contested first. The final score is the combined total, in kilograms, of the heaviest successful lift from each event. Olympic weightlifting has been featured at every Summer Olympic Games since 1920. Unlike other strength sports that test limit strength, Olympic lifts emphasize explosive power, speed, and a greater range of motion, requiring precise balance and mobility. The sport is governed internationally by the International Weightlifting Federation, which holds annual World Championships.
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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