Weightlifting is regarded to an athletic discipline in the modern Olympic Games where the athletes have to lift maximum weight of a barbell loaded with weights. This sport tests the ballistic limits of a human with execution and motion given great importance. The lifting level that is the Snatch and Clean, Jerk might seem to be simply graceful, but the lifters need to put in great effort to complete these dynamic yet explosive levels. The best of their efforts in various levels is added up and the results are published accordingly. This sport takes very little execution time and tests the human ballistic limits. Weightlifting has always been able to mark its position in every Summer Olympics since the period from 1920 Games especially in European, Middle Eastern and the Asian countries. Apart from being a sport, weightlifting also aims to promote health, fitness and also the muscular development as well. To know more about the sport, scroll further and read more.
Weightlifting Rules And Regulations
Weightlifting is a sport of good mobility and great motion. Go ahead and read the rules and regulations of the game.
Weightlifting
- In the beginning of the competition, the athlete is given the chance to name the weight which he/she will start with and the lowest weight goes first.
- The players have to go through two levels of weightlifting: the Snatch and the Clean; Jerk and is given one minute to perform the lift. A warning bell sounds when 30 seconds is given to the layers for the attempt.
- Three chances are assigned to each player in each of the levels which is snatch, clean and jerk. Within the body weight category of each player, the highest of the two successful lifts are considered which determines their overall result. The categories of body weight are different for women when compared to that of men.
- Usually there are eight weight categories for men and seven for women which totals up to 15 in number.
- For each category, there will be different lifts involved. Like for snatch, the bar is raised from the floor to the head in just one movement. While for the clean and the jerk, it is a two stage action with the bar first brought to the shoulder and then over the head.
- When the weights lifted by the athletes are compared, the one with the heaviest combination is awarded the gold medal.
- In case of a tie between the players, the contestant with the lowest body weight wins the match.
- If a situation occurs where the two athletes have lifted the same total weight and both of them are of the same body weight, then the first person to lift the total weight is declared the winner.
- As soon as the lift is raised from the floor and brought above the knee, it is considered to be an attempt. This lift is considered to be successful only when the lifter stands with his arms and legs straight with the lift. If all the three the judges are satisfied, they will sound a buzzer and remark the lift to be lifted successfully.
- Lifters are not allowed to use lubricant, oil, water, grease or talcum on their thighs. Whereas they may use chalk which is magnesium on the thighs or on the hand.
Weightlifting History
The history of conducting competitions based on the heaviest lift raised, traces back to the ancient times. It goes beyond the earliest human recordings and has been found to trail all the way to Egypt, China and in ancient Greece as well. In the year 1896, weightlifting was first included in the Olympic Games, but was not included in the 1900 Olympics. Later in 1904, weightlifting was revived, but still it did not seem to keep up the continuity and was absent from the Games of 1908 and 1912. Then it took eight years for the sport to return to Olympics which was held in Antwerp, Belgium and 14 nations participated in this sport. Hence, it was after this that the weight categories were introduced and the competitors had to compete against each other not based on the size, but weight divisions. It was only at the Olympic Games 2000 that the women's weightlifting was introduced in Sydney.
The history of conducting competitions based on the heaviest lift raised, traces back to the ancient times. It goes beyond the earliest human recordings and has been found to trail all the way to Egypt, China and in ancient Greece as well. In the year 1896, weightlifting was first included in the Olympic Games, but was not included in the 1900 Olympics. Later in 1904, weightlifting was revived, but still it did not seem to keep up the continuity and was absent from the Games of 1908 and 1912. Then it took eight years for the sport to return to Olympics which was held in Antwerp, Belgium and 14 nations participated in this sport. Hence, it was after this that the weight categories were introduced and the competitors had to compete against each other not based on the size, but weight divisions. It was only at the Olympic Games 2000 that the women's weightlifting was introduced in Sydney.