Olympic Weightlifting Basics

OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING BASICS

Olympic Weightlifting consist of two main lifts that are performed in competition, the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk.  Weightlifting is the only sport that involves lifting weights recognized as an official sport in the Olympic Games.

In competition each athlete is given three attempts at each of the discipline (Snatch and Clean & Jerk).

The weight classes are broken up as listed below in kilograms:

Women: 48,53,58,63,69,75,75+

Men: 56,62,69,77,85,94,105,105+

For Youth Weightlifting there are additional weight classes to include:

Girls: 35,39,44

Boys: 35,39,44,50

The lifter with the highest total, Snatch and Clean & Jerk combined from each weight class wins the

competition. In the even of a tie the lifter with the lowest bodyweight wins the

competition.

All weights are calculated in Kilograms, the international standard.

USA Weightlifting is a drug tested sport and all lifters upon becoming members

are subject to drug testing as a condition of their membership.