The Olympic Weightlifting
While weight lifting is used in many sports and athletic training, Olympic weightlifting is the name of the official sport name. In competition, the athletes try to lift the maximum weight possible in the form of a barbell loaded with weight plates. There are special weight categories to which athletes belong, and there are special conditions they have to meet in order to compete: body weight, height and strength.
The main specificity of Olympic weightlifting is that it tests the limit of explosive strength. How fast and with what level of mobility can the athlete perform the lift? In competition, both mobility and lifting speed are evaluated together with the athlete's strength. There are not very many lifters who prefer Olympic weightlifting, the techniques specific to the sport are part of the training schemes and programs of many elite athletes. The explanation for this is very simple: they need functional and explosive strength and they have to cultivate it somehow.
The weights used for Olympic weightlifting are set in 1 kilogram increments, and weight plates are added for every superior weight category. The order by which the athletes enter the competition is not general, but it is rather set depending on the event. Usually the athlete with the lowest weight begins. If he/she is not successful, he/she can try later, with the mention that there is a maximum of three lifts allowed per competition. The award for the best lifter is received by the athlete that has the best strength-to-weight ratio. These are usually variables that depend on the lifter's weight class.
For many decades Olympic weightlifting has had sport recognition only for men. However, in our times, women too participate to Olympic weightlifting competitions. These are not exactly new, but it was at the dawn of the 21st century that women's competitions entered an organized professional environment. Until then, contests were local and unofficial even if awards were granted. For women, Olympic weightlifting is more difficult, due to the different anatomy of the female body, however, strength training techniques are widely and successfully used by women too.
Lots of the athletes who've ended up in Olympic weightlifting competitions have started with strength training only to improve their muscle condition, and their body power. However, the demarcation line is not still very clear between power training and Olympic weightlifting. This is how so many lifters have got into Olympic weightlifting competition, even if their initial intention was different.
The main specificity of Olympic weightlifting is that it tests the limit of explosive strength. How fast and with what level of mobility can the athlete perform the lift? In competition, both mobility and lifting speed are evaluated together with the athlete's strength. There are not very many lifters who prefer Olympic weightlifting, the techniques specific to the sport are part of the training schemes and programs of many elite athletes. The explanation for this is very simple: they need functional and explosive strength and they have to cultivate it somehow.
The weights used for Olympic weightlifting are set in 1 kilogram increments, and weight plates are added for every superior weight category. The order by which the athletes enter the competition is not general, but it is rather set depending on the event. Usually the athlete with the lowest weight begins. If he/she is not successful, he/she can try later, with the mention that there is a maximum of three lifts allowed per competition. The award for the best lifter is received by the athlete that has the best strength-to-weight ratio. These are usually variables that depend on the lifter's weight class.
For many decades Olympic weightlifting has had sport recognition only for men. However, in our times, women too participate to Olympic weightlifting competitions. These are not exactly new, but it was at the dawn of the 21st century that women's competitions entered an organized professional environment. Until then, contests were local and unofficial even if awards were granted. For women, Olympic weightlifting is more difficult, due to the different anatomy of the female body, however, strength training techniques are widely and successfully used by women too.
Lots of the athletes who've ended up in Olympic weightlifting competitions have started with strength training only to improve their muscle condition, and their body power. However, the demarcation line is not still very clear between power training and Olympic weightlifting. This is how so many lifters have got into Olympic weightlifting competition, even if their initial intention was different.
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