![]() The lowest weight category (52kg) was started at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, an edition which also saw the introduction of the +110 kg category, the highest. Weight categories, ranging from 60kg to 82.5kg were introduced at the 1920 Olympics. However, starting with the 1972 Munich Olympics, the clean and press – a variation of the clean and jerk with a three-step process - was discontinued due to difficulty in judging the techniques of weightlifters. Olympic weightlifting earlier held the ‘clean and press’, the snatch, and the clean and jerk events. The one-hand event was discontinued after the Paris 1924 Olympics. However, weightlifting was excluded from the 1904, 19 Olympics, only making a comeback at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, and has had a permanent presence since then. Great Britain’s Lauceston Elliot was crowned as the ‘one-hand’ champion while Viggo Jensen of Denmark was the first ‘two-hand’ Olympic champion. The 1896 Olympics had two weightlifting events – lifting with one hand and lifting with two hands. It was included in the inaugural edition in 1896 at Athens, Greece as part of the field events in track and field athletics. Weightlifting forged an early connection with the modern Olympic Games. They also often rub chalk on their hands to make it dry before a lift, which prevents the barbell from slipping. ![]() Weightlifters are allowed to use tapes to cover parts of their body – like the wrists and thumbs – to prevent injury. The barbell is made of steel and the heavy weights, covered with rubber, are added to the sides. The one who decides to lift the lowest weight in the first attempt is allowed to go first and he must attempt to lift within one minute of his name being called out in any tournament. In the event of the bodyweight also being equal, the one with lesser attempts will be the winner.Ī participant is allowed to increase the weight for his next attempt after a successful lift. In case two participants have lifted the same combined weight, then the one with the lower bodyweight is declared the winner. A weightlifter’s best attempt at snatch and the clean and jerk are then added up and the one with the highest combined weight lifted is declared the winner. The lifter must then pause and extend his arms and legs to lift it above the head (jerk) with a straight elbow and have to hold it there until a buzzer is sounded.Ī weightlifter is given three snatch attempts and three clean and jerk attempts each. In the clean and jerk, the weightlifter is first required to pick up the barbell and bring it up to his chest (clean). The snatch is where the weightlifter picks up the barbell and lifts it above his head in one singular motion. There are two stages in modern Olympic weightlifting – the snatch and the clean and jerk. ![]() While the sport’s name is quite self-explanatory, it is not quite as simple as declaring the winner among whoever has lifted the heaviest weights. The governing body of global weightlifting, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) was formed in 1905 and holds the weightlifting world championships for both men and women every year, with the exception of an Olympic year. One wrong lift can cause multiple injuries.Ī historic sport that traces its roots to Africa, South Asia and ancient Greece, the modern version took shape sometime in the 19th century. ![]() One of the most fascinating sports to watch, weightlifting is an embodiment of the depths of human strength and courage.Ī sport driven as much by technique as raw strength, weightlifters are accustomed to lifting as much as twice or in some cases, even thrice their bodyweight. ![]()
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