|
Weightlifting (Olympic sport since 1896)
|
History |
|
Equipment |
|
Glossary |
About
An ancient sport as old as mankind, embodying the most direct manifestation of human strength, weightlifting has not only flourished, but developed into a modern sporting discipline for the 21st century. The apparent simplicity of lifting the barbell from the ground and over the head in one or two movements is deceiving. Weightlifting requires a combination of power, speed, technique, concentration and timing.
Super heavyweight lifters normally claim the title of World's Strongest Man or Woman. However, kilo per kilo, the lightest weightlifter is often the strongest.
Men's weightlifting was on the programme of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, and women participated for the first time ever at the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000.
Competition
Lifters perform two types of lifts - the snatch and the clean and jerk. In the snatch, they lift the bar to arm's length above their head in one movement. In the clean and jerk, they lift the bar to their shoulders, stand up straight, then jerk the bar to arm's length above their head. Lifters are allowed three attempts at each lift, and their best snatch and best clean-and-jerk figures are added to determine the winners.
List of events
-- + 105kg Men
-- 105kg Men
-- 56kg Men
-- 62kg Men
-- 69kg Men
-- 77kg Men
-- 85kg Men
-- 94kg Men
-- + 75kg Women
-- 48kg Women
-- 53kg Women
-- 58kg Women
-- 63kg Women
-- 69kg Women
-- 75kg Women
History
Discipline's origin
As a basic athletic activity and a natural means to measure strength and power, the lifting of weights was present in both the ancient Egyptian and Greek societies. Developing its international scope chiefly in the 19th century, weightlifting was among those few sports (alongside athletics, swimming, gymnastics, fencing, wrestling, shooting and cycling) which featured on the programme of the first modern Olympic Games, in 1896, in Athens. The first World Championships in this sport, however, had been staged five years earlier: on 28 March 1891, in London, with seven athletes representing six countries. The power relations have undergone major changes over past decades. At the beginning of the century, Austria, Germany and France were the most successful nations. Later on, Egypt, then the United States of America reigned. In the 1950s and the following three decades, the Soviet Union's weightlifters played the protagonists' role - with Bulgaria and other East European nations being the major challengers. In the 1990s, China, Turkey, Greece and Iran catapulted to the lead. In the women's field, China has been dominant since the very beginning, with other Asian countries (e.g. Thailand) emerging as strong contenders to the championship and Olympic titles. Europe has remained the most powerful continent in the men's ranks, with a significant boost in Asian weightlifting. Asian women have definitely seized power over their European counterparts, but other continents, e.g. North and South America, can also boast female Olympic champions.
Olympic history
Weightlifting has been on the programme of the Olympic Games every year except for 1900, 1908 and 1912. The Olympic weightlifting programme has developed a great deal throughout the decades. Today lifters compete in the snatch and the clean and jerk and are classified according to their combined total result. At the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, men competed in eight bodyweight categories: up to 56kg, 62kg, 69kg, 77kg, 85kg, 94kg, 105kg and +105kg. Women participated in seven categories: up to 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 75kg, and +75kg. The programme of events for the 2008 Beijing Games is the same. The most successful Olympic weightlifters of all time are Naim S¨¹leymanoglu and Halil Mutlu of Turkey, Pyrros Dimas, and Kakhi Kakhiasvillis of Greece, each of whom won three Olympic titles. Hungary's Imre Földi, Ronnie Weller and Ingo Steinhöfel hold a special record, being five-times Olympians. Counting all the 22 Olympic Games, weightlifters representing 32 NOCs have so far won Olympic gold medals. Among the women, seven nations have produced Olympic champions at the last two Games.
Equipment
Barbell
Equipment consisting of a steel bar and rubber-coated discs of different weights fastened onto it. In weightlifting competitions, competitors must lift the barbell loaded to a certain weight under strictly specified conditions. In competition, the barbell's weight is progressively loaded by one-kilo increments.
Collar
A metal component that encircles the bar and secures the weights in place (weighing 2.5kg each).
Disc
An individual cylindrical weight on the bar. The weight of the discs ranges between 0.5kg and 25kg, symmetrically loaded on the bar in accordance with the weight requested by the athlete for his/her attempt.
Sleeve
The end parts of the bar where the weights are attached.
Referee light system
The three referees give their decision about the correctness and validity of each lift by pressing white or red light buttons on a small device in front of them. As soon as a referee has judged a lift as correctly completed, he or she will press the white light button, or, if the attempt is incorrect or missed, the red light button.
Main scoreboard
The large scoreboard on the wall helps spectators to follow the progress of the competition by indicating all the important data on the lifters, the progress of the competition and the actual ranking in that particular competition (group/session).
Record board
The records relevant to the competition/championships and the category contested are displayed in the venue for information to the public. When displayed on the main scoreboard, the records are immediately updated.
Multi-video screen
Replays of the lifts in slow motion from different angles are presented to the public and the Jury after each attempt to allow for better observation of the athletes' movements, which are very fast in real time.
Costume/outfit of competitors
Competitors wear a - usually - one-piece, close-fitting leotard, with or without a T-shirt underneath.
Weightlifting shoes
are designed specially to give stability to the feet during the execution of the lift.
Weightlifting belt
(Maximum 120mm wide) may be worn to support the trunk during the attempt.
Bandages
May be worn on the wrists or the knees. Elastic knee-caps may also be worn instead of the knee bandage. Weightlifters may use special gloves to improve their grip on the bar.
Glossary
(Bodyweight) Category: A bracket of bodyweight specified in kilograms with the upper limit being the category's name (e.g. Category - up to - 94kg), within which athletes compete in the same event. There are a total of 15 (bodyweight) categories recognised for weightlifting competitions: eight for men, and seven for women (categories are sometimes called "Classes").
(Main/Public) Scoreboard: A large board in the venue permanently supplying information on the progress and final results of the competition. It may be electronic or projected on to a large screen.
Attempt: Each competitor has three attempts at the snatch and three at the clean and jerk at weights requested and specified by the rules. In order to qualify for a total, the athlete must perform at least one successful attempt on each type of movement/lift.
Attempt Board: An electronic device on which must appear the name of the competitor just called, the category and group contested, the number of the attempt and the weight to be lifted. This board also incorporates the referees' decision lights and the timing clock indicating the time allocated to the lifter to perform the attempt.
Bodyweight: The exact weight of the athlete (to the nearest 10 grams) registered by the officials at the weigh-in, which begins two hours before the athlete's competition. In the event of identical results, having a lighter bodyweight will give the advantage in the ranking.
Chalk: The common name for the magnesium carbonate powder that lifters put on their hands to improve their grip on the bar.
Clean & Jerk: One of the two types of movements/lifts which constitute the weightlifting competition. A two-phase movement, during which the athlete first pulls the barbell with both hands to shoulder height, performing a squat and then standing up (Clean), then jerks the weight overhead in a fast movement finishing with arms fully extended and an upright body (Jerk).
Drawing of lots: At the Technical Congress, a lot number is allocated at random (generated electronically) to each participant, the progression of which will be a factor in the order of lifting within each (group's) competition.
Elimination: An athlete failing to obtain a valid result in either one or both movements (lifts) for any reason is eliminated.
Entries: In order to be able to compete in competitions (Olympic Games, championships, etc.), athletes must be correctly entered by their National Olympic Committee (NOC) or National Federation into their respective bodyweight categories, with the indication of the qualification totals. No more than two lifters of the same NOC/country may be entered into a bodyweight category. Final entries are verified before the Technical Congress and will be used to make the Start(ing) Lists.
Event: In the Olympic Games, one bodyweight category's competition (e.g. Category 48kg, women), can be held in one group (Group A) or two (Group B and Group A).
Good Lift: Tentative jug¨¦e correcte par au moins deux des trois juges. Les r¨¦sultats des meilleurs essais ¨¤ l'arrach¨¦ et ¨¤ l'¨¦paul¨¦-jet¨¦ sont additionn¨¦s pour le Total.
Group: Depending on the number of entries in one category, competitors may compete in one group only (usually up to 15 participants) or in more groups (Groups C, B and A). The allocation of athletes into the various groups is carried out according to the level of their estimated performance (entry totals), with Group A being the strongest. Each group's competition consists of Snatch and Clean & Jerk and each one is a final, with the results of all the groups within one category being combined and ranked at the end.
IWF: International Weightlifting Federation: the world-wide governing body for the sport of weightlifting.
Jury: A jury of five members, each of them international category one referees and appointed by the IWF, supervises the correct implementation of the IWF Rules during the competition. The Jury, with its President in the middle, sits behind a table with a clear view of the competition platform. In the event of a serious technical mistake by the referees, and if unanimous, the Jury may replace a referee or overrule the referee's decision on an attempt.
Lot number: A number drawn (electronically) for each competitor at the Technical Congress, which determines the order of weigh-in and of their lifting during the competition.
Movement (Lift): The Snatch or the Clean & Jerk: these two methods of lifting the barbell overhead are recognised for weightlifting competitions.
No Lift: An attempt judged as unsuccessful by at least two of the three referees.
Olympic Total: A figure specified in kilograms, being the aggregate of the best successful Snatch and Clean & Jerk results achieved by the competitor. The total decides the classification/ranking of the competitors. In the event of a tie, athletes are ranked according to bodyweight, with the lighter competitor ranking higher.
Olympic Total: A figure specified in kilograms, being the aggregate of the best successful Snatch and Clean & Jerk results achieved by the competitor. The total decides the classification/ranking of the competitors. In the case of a tie, athletes are ranked according to bodyweight with the lighter competitor ranking higher.
Platform: A square platform measuring 4m along each side and 50-150mm high, made of a solid and non-slippery material, on which the competitors must execute the lifts.
Presentation: Fifteen minutes before the start of each competition, the speaker introduces the participating athletes who are lined up on the stage in the order of their start numbers, as well as the allocated technical officials.
Press-out: An illegal move where a lifter bends the arms while holding the bar overhead, then presses out to make them straight. The most common mistake which leads to the referees declaring the attempt as a No Lift.
Protocol: A document registering the progress of the competition, indicating each successful and unsuccessful lift, the total result, the officials, and the records achieved. (Also called the scoresheet.)
Qualification Events: A series of events (World and Continental Qualification events) designated by the IOC/IWF to decide the Olympic qualification of NOCs and athletes.
Record board: This board is used to display the current records of the category being contested. It may be incorporated in the main/public scoreboard, with the records permanently updated during the competition.
Referee: Three referees are appointed to each competition to adjudicate the attempts of the lifters. Their majority or unanimous decision - passed individually, with the help of an electronic referee light system - decides the validity or failure of a lift. The referees' audible and visible signal allows the athlete to replace the barbell on the platform at the end of a lift. A fourth referee may operate the timing clock. The referees also perform the weigh-in of the athletes before the competition. Referees must be trained, pass appropriate exams and be registered with the IWF to be able to officiate in international competitions.
Referee light system: An electronic device used by the referees to signal to the athlete when he/she may replace the barbell on the platform, and to pass their decision on the validity of the lift. Two or three white lights mean Good Lift; two or three red lights mean No Lift. The referees' decisions on each attempt are displayed for maximum transparency.
Snatch: One of the two types of movements/lifts which constitute the weightlifting competition. A continuous, swift movement in which the athlete lifts the barbell with both hands from the platform to extended arms' length above the head, finishing with an upright body. The snatch is performed in the first half of the competition.
Speaker/MC: A Speaker or Master of Ceremonies (MC) is an official who, in accordance with the rules, moderates the competition, calling the athletes by name and NOC/country to the platform to perform their attempts, and announces the validity or non-validity of each lift, after the referees have passed their decision. The speaker gives continuous information on the competition to both the participants and the public.
Split: To drop while bending the legs, one forward and one straight back.
Squat: To drop while bending the legs with the feet placed to either side.
Start Number: The number defining the order of weigh-in and lifting in one particular session (group) competition, defined by the progressive order of the lot numbers drawn at the Technical Congress.
Starting Lists: A package of documents issued after the Technical Congress containing detailed information on the schedule of the competitions, the participants, the appointed technical officials, the starters in each group with their corresponding entry totals and the current records.
Technical Congress: A meeting held with team managers, IWF officials and competition management 48 or 24 hours prior to the first competition to finalise the Starting Lists, allocation of Technical Officials and other important details for the competitions.
Technical Controller: Two technical controllers at each competition check the athletes' outfits, the calling order and the progression of the weight of the barbell, keep order in the warm-up area, etc.
Time Keeper: A competition official - usually one of the referees - appointed to operate the timing clock in accordance with the Rules.
Timing Clock: An electronic time-keeping device - usually built into the Attempt Board - displaying the time allocated to the athlete to begin the attempt in a countdown mode, starting from one or two minutes.
Total ¨¤ l'inscription: The total result indicated on the Entry Form and representing the athlete's current and/or estimated performance. This total result is an important factor in allocating the athletes to the different groups within their category. The aim is to have athletes of similar potential competing in one group/session, to avoid the unnecessary prolongation of the competition.
Warm-up (room/area): An area separated from, but adjacent to, the competition stage, in which athletes warm up before being called to perform their lifts and where they return after each attempt. The warm-up room is supplied with a suitable number of platforms and barbells to serve the participants of a competition/group.
Weigh-in: A process that begins two hours before each competition and lasts one hour, during which the lifters entered for that particular competition appear before a panel of officials and are weighed. Athletes who are under or over the limits of their indicated category are not be allowed to compete.
Zero: If an athlete fails on each attempt and so cannot score a valid result either in the Snatch or the Clean & Jerk. In the Olympic Games, where ranking is established only on the total (i.e. the aggregate of the best results of both lifts), this means elimination (no ranking). In other competitions, an athlete may be classified in either one of the movements, even if he/she has a zero in the other movement (lift).
|
