Weightlifting facts for kids

Weightlifting is a sport where athletes lift heavy weights. It has a long history, going back to ancient times when strong people in villages would show off their strength. At first, it was often seen as a sport for certain groups of people. But over time, it became popular with many different kinds of athletes. Weightlifting has been a part of the Olympic Games since 1896, which is a very long time!

What is Olympic Weightlifting?

Weightlifting as a sport is managed by a group called the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). This organization helps set the rules for competitions. The IWF was started in 1905 and is based in Budapest.

Lala Rzazade weightlifting at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics

The Snatch Lift

The snatch is one of the two main lifts in Olympic weightlifting. In this lift, the athlete must lift a barbell from the floor to above their head in one smooth, continuous motion. It looks easy, but it needs a lot of things! Athletes need great strength, excellent skill, and flexible shoulders. They also need good balance and speed to complete the lift.

The Clean and Jerk Lift

The clean and jerk is the other main lift in Olympic weightlifting. This lift is often called "the king of lifts." This is because athletes can lift more weight over their heads using this technique than any other. It is a very technical lift that requires two main parts:

• The Clean: The athlete lifts the barbell from the floor to their shoulders.
• The Jerk: From the shoulders, the athlete then pushes the barbell above their head.

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• Weight training