weightlifting

Weightlifting is the competition-oriented snatching and pushing of large masses in the form of weight plates on a barbell. In addition to strength, good technique and mobility are particularly important for success in weightlifting. Competitions are held in weight classes in the individual disciplines of snatch and clean and jerk.

In the snatch, the dumbbell is gripped palms down and raised from floor to overhead in a single movement. The dumbbell is to be guided upwards along the body in a non-stop sequence of movements. The referee's signal to put the bar down should be given when the lifter's body is still. When pushing, the barbell is brought from the floor to the shoulders in a single movement, and the lifter can remain in this position briefly. The barbell is then raised with the arms fully extended until the referee's signal to remove the barbell.

Competitions are normally carried out as duels in the two disciplines snatch and clean and jerk, each athlete has 3 attempts per discipline. The winner is whoever manages the greatest load within a weight class. The bar itself weighs 20 kg for men, while a smaller diameter bar weighing 15 kg has been introduced for women.

In 1896, weightlifting was first included in the Summer Olympics in Athens. The Federal Association of German Weightlifters was founded in 1969 and is based in Leimen. However, the history of German weightlifting began in 1891 with the founding of the German Athletes' Association. In 1905 the Workers' Athletes' Association of Germany was founded. After the Second World War, the German Athletes' Association was founded in Germany in 1949. At the European level, the highest authority in weightlifting is the European Weightlifting Federation, which was founded in 1969. The global governing body is the International Weightlifting Federation, founded in 1905.