Weightlifting

This article is about the competitive sport. For the sport's appearance at the Olympics, see Weightlifting at the Summer Olympics.

Weightlifting first started in the so-called Dark Ages of the human history. It was usually done by the strongest men in villages all over Europe. It was considered to be a sport for the lower classes, however since then it has changed into the sport for other people as well. It has been in the Olympic Games since 1896.

Weightlifting

Weightlifting pictogram
Highest governing body	International Weightlifting Federation
First developed	Ancient Greece
Characteristics
Contact	No
Mixed sex	No
Type	Strength sport
Equipment	Barbells, weight plates, collars, chalk, tape, shoes, belt
Presence
Country or region	Worldwide
Olympic	Men: 1896, 1904, 1920–present; Women: 2000–present

Competition events in Olympic weightlifting

As a competitive sport, Weightlifting is controlled by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). Based in Budapest, it was founded in 1905.

Lala Rzazade weightlifting at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics

Snatch

The snatch is one of the two olympic weightlifting events. The essence of the event is to lift a barbell from the platform to locked arms overhead in a smooth continuous movement. The lift requires not only great strength, but mastery of technical skills, a high degree of shoulder flexibility, excellent balance, and speed.

Clean and jerk

The clean and jerk is another olympic weightlifting events. It is a highly technical lift that is known as "the king of lifts" because more weight can be lifted above one's head as compared to any other known weightlifting technique.

Related pages

• Weight training

Other websites

• Media related to Weightlifting at Wikimedia Commons
• International Weightlifting Federation