Difference between revisions of "Weightlifting"
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[[Image:Clean%26jerk.jpg|thumb|220px|An athlete pauses in between the two phases of the clean and jerk event.]] | [[Image:Clean%26jerk.jpg|thumb|220px|An athlete pauses in between the two phases of the clean and jerk event.]] | ||
| − | '''Weightlifting''' has been an [[Olympic]] [[sport]] since the first modern games in [[Athens]] in 1896<ref>http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/programme/index_uk.asp?SportCode=WL</ref> | + | '''Weightlifting''' has been an [[Olympic]] [[sport]] since the first modern games in [[Athens]] in 1896.<ref>http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/programme/index_uk.asp?SportCode=WL</ref> Athletes compete to see who can lift the heaviest weights (in the form of a metal bar with heavy weights on each end). Both men and women compete, and there are several weight divisions for each gender. |
Olympic weightlifting has two events: | Olympic weightlifting has two events: | ||
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* '''Clean and jerk''', where the bar is first lifted to just beneath the chin, and then lifted above the head after a short pause. | * '''Clean and jerk''', where the bar is first lifted to just beneath the chin, and then lifted above the head after a short pause. | ||
| − | Participants compete in both disciplines (with the weights being increased in a similar way to the raising of the bar in a [[athletics|high jump]] competition), and add their best scores in each. The man or woman with the highest combined total is the winner<ref>http://www.iwf.net/</ref> | + | Participants compete in both disciplines (with the weights being increased in a similar way to the raising of the bar in a [[athletics|high jump]] competition), and add their best scores in each. The man or woman with the highest combined total is the winner.<ref>http://www.iwf.net/</ref> |
| − | The world record for weightlifting in the men's super-heavyweight division is | + | The world record for weightlifting in the men's super-heavyweight division is 472 kg (over 1000 lb), set at the Olympic Games in [[Sydney]] in 2000.<ref>http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/records/results_uk.asp</ref> This is about as heavy as two fully-grown male [[lions]].<ref>http://www.lioncrusher.com/animal.asp?animal=59</ref> |
Countries who usually perform well in weightlifting include [[China]] and many [[Eastern Europe]]an and former [[Soviet]] states. | Countries who usually perform well in weightlifting include [[China]] and many [[Eastern Europe]]an and former [[Soviet]] states. | ||
Latest revision as of 07:28, July 12, 2016
Weightlifting has been an Olympic sport since the first modern games in Athens in 1896.[1] Athletes compete to see who can lift the heaviest weights (in the form of a metal bar with heavy weights on each end). Both men and women compete, and there are several weight divisions for each gender.
Olympic weightlifting has two events:
- Snatch, where the bar must be lifted above the head in one continuous motion.
- Clean and jerk, where the bar is first lifted to just beneath the chin, and then lifted above the head after a short pause.
Participants compete in both disciplines (with the weights being increased in a similar way to the raising of the bar in a high jump competition), and add their best scores in each. The man or woman with the highest combined total is the winner.[2]
The world record for weightlifting in the men's super-heavyweight division is 472 kg (over 1000 lb), set at the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000.[3] This is about as heavy as two fully-grown male lions.[4]
Countries who usually perform well in weightlifting include China and many Eastern European and former Soviet states.
When performed by women, it is a joke sport.
