How has Weightlifting changed throughout the years?

Weightlifting first appeared as an Olympic sport in the first modern games in 1896. It featured the one hand lift and the two hand lift.

The lifts began on the ground to the overhead position and little has changed as far as the concept of lifting the weights. Start from the ground and finish overhead. Simple and it still remains this way today.

The lifts remained this way until 1928 when the lifts became more specialized and became a triad sports. The 3 lifts included the snatch, clean and jerk and the clean and press.

Not only did the sport evolve into a 3 event sport but what also changed were the barbell and weights. In the early days the weights were ball shaped and filled with either mercury or sand.

Shortly after the 1896 Olympics the barbells became fitted with round circular calibrated metal discs. This was an advanced step in the evolution of Weightlifting so that the weights became precise and accurate. 

The round metal weights and 3 event Weightlifting remained for many years and many championships until 1972 when the Olympic press was eliminated. Why? Because lifters were bending their lower backs using a jerk movement to press the weight overhead. This was hard to judge for the referees hence the elimination of the press. During the same year in 1972 was the introduction from metal round calibrated discs to bumper calibrated plates for the Munich games. The round bumper plates has remained in every Olympics and world championship since. Also, Weightlifting has since been a 2 event sport with only the snatch and the clean n jerk. No more clean n press. Has since been eliminated from the sport. 

Weightlifting today

The Rio Games of 2016 is the next major Weightlifting competition. Today, Weightlifting still uses the bumper plates except that they are now colored to indicate the weight of the bumpers. For example, Red = 25kg, Blue = 20kg, Yellow = 15kg and Green = 10kg. The change plates are White = 5kg, Red = 2.5kg. Blue = 2kg, Yellow = 1.5kg, Green = 1kg and once again White is used for 0.5kg. 

The men's barbell = 20kg and the women's = 15kg

Conclusion

Weightlifting is a simple sport with many changes. However, the challenge remains the same. Who can lift the heaviest weight in each weight class. There are only 2 events the snatch and the clean n jerk and lifters will train for years to achieve Olympic gold which is the ultimate outcome for a Weightlifter. The Rio Games are just several weeks away. Will you watch? Who will win? Will any records be broken? We will just have to wait and see. 

Coach Cano