Weightlifting involves the lifting of weights attached to a barbell. People lift weights for exercise and to build their muscles. Weightlifting also serves as the basis of competitive sports called weightlifting and powerlifting. In these sports, athletes compete to determine who can lift the most weight. Such competitions match lifters with similar body weights. Athletes who participate in other sports sometimes lift weights to increase their strength and flexibility. Lifting weights is also a popular hobby for improving muscle tone and general health. Professional bodybuilders lift weights to improve their muscular development. They exhibit their physiques in organized competitions. Judges decide which bodybuilder has the best body.
In the sport of weightlifting, there are two types of lifts—the snatch and the clean and jerk. In the snatch, lifters bend down and grasp the barbell. They then lift the bar in a quick motion, raising it above their head while squatting under it. In the clean and jerk, the lifter brings the bar to a resting position at the shoulders, then jerks the barbell over the head by thrusting out the arms and legs.
Participants are allowed three attempts on each lift. Weights are added to the barbell after each successful attempt. A panel of three referees determines whether each lift was properly executed. The lifter in each class who lifts the highest total wins. The total is the weight of the heaviest successful snatch added to the heaviest successful clean and jerk. Weightlifting is an event in the Summer Olympic Games.
In the sport of powerlifting, the three chief types of lifts are the squat, the bench press, and the dead lift. In the squat, lifters stand upright with the barbell resting on the rear of the shoulders. They then lower themselves to a squatting position, pause, and again rise to an upright position. In the bench press, lifters raise and lower the weight above their chest while lying on their back on a bench. In the dead lift, the barbell rests on the floor in front of the lifter. The competitor bends, grasps, then lifts it in one motion and straightens to a standing position, keeping the weight hanging at arm’s length.
