Weightlifting and strength contests are very popular in the 21^st century, but they are not new. Strength training and competitive strength sports can be traced back more than 4000 years, which likely played an early role in the evolution of lifting into what we see today.

Historical Weightlifting

• Ancient Egypt - illustrations of weightlifting and strength movements can be found on the tomb of Prince Baghti from 2040 BC.

• Ancient China - Detailed writings from Lu Annal, from 551 BC, suggest that strength training and how much you can lift were highly valued in ancient Chinese culture.

• Ancient Greece - While reported to not be included in the ancient Olympics, movements like stone throwing and halteres were popular as early as 557 BC and it is likely that strength contests were included in other ancient games.

Modern Weightlifting

Modern Weightlifting, often called Olympic Weightlifting, predates the Modern Olympic Games, with Levy Lawrence Edwards of Great Britain gaining the title “Amateur Champion Weightlifter of the World” in an international competition in 1891.

In the first Modern Olympic Games (Greece 1896), contestants competed in a one-handed snatch and a two-handed clean and jerk.

In Paris 1924, the snatch was changed to the two-handed version.

In Amsterdam 1928, the clean and press was added, it was removed in Munich 1972, leaving the two Olympic lifts we know today: the barbell snatch (event 1) and the clean and jerk (event 2).

Like many sports, social barriers long prevented female participation in weightlifting. It wasn’t until Syndey 2000 that women were allowed to compete in weightlifting in the Olympics.

Paralympic Weightlifting

In Tokyo 1964, strength sports were introduced to the Paralympics. While referred to as para weightlifting, the clean and jerk, and the snatch are not a part of the competition. The competition lift is the bench press, under similar rules to that of able-bodied powerlifters. The sport has been known as Para Powerlifting since Barcelona 1992.

Competition Rules in Modern Weightlifting

Important governing bodies for British lifters are BWL (British Weightlifting) and the IWF (International Weightlifting Federation).

• Lifters compete in the barbell snatch (event 1), and clean and jerk (event 2).

• They get three attempts at each event to lift as much as possible. The male division uses a 20kg Olympic Barbell and the female division uses a 15kg Olympic Barbell.

• Lifters are scored based on the total kilograms lifted in your biggest successful lifts from both events.

• After a successful attempt, lifters put more weight on the bar, after an unsuccessful lift you cannot reduce the weight for the next lift.

• You can only choose whole numbers, for example, 90kg is allowed but 90.5kg is not.

• After successfully lifting a bar overhead in either event, you must wait until the ref gives you the ‘down’ command before dropping the bar to the platform.

• After the completion of your lift, three judges will judge whether they think it was a fair and successful lift or not, and it will be given on the aggregate vote.

• Votes are attributed as a white light for successful or a red light for non-successful, so you want two or more white lights for a good lift.

• Lifters compete against people in the same weight category as themselves. In Paris 2024 the men’s Olympic Weightlifting classes are 61kg, 73kg, 89kg, 102kg, and over 102kg. The women’s categories are 49kg, 59kg, 71kg, 81kg, and over 81kg.

If you are looking to get into weightlifting, just like any other strength sport, make sure you have appropriate kit. You can shop our range of Olympic weightlifting Gym Equipment, and you can also get a coach or join a local club to learn the techniques faster. Remember to have fun, like any other sport.

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Tags: Equipment > Bars & Weight Plates ; Exercise Type > Strength