Weightlifting, also known as Olympic weightlifting, is a popular form of strength and conditioning training that enhances general physical fitness. While athletes lift weights to train their body to better perform in their sport, weightlifting itself has become a competition on its own.
Olympic weightlifting has a long history dating back thousands of years to ancient Greek and Egyptian times. This article will delve into Olympic weightlifting history in detail. It will shed light on contemporary Olympic lifting records as well as other important facts about the sport.
Olympic Weightlifting History Explained
While historians cannot be sure about the exact origins of weightlifting, the earliest evidence of weight training can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians. Carved onto the tomb of Egyptian Prince Baghti, dating back to 2040 BC, soldiers are depicted using weights. Other early roots include prehistoric tribes lifting stones as a sign of manhood, a tradition continued by the ancient Greeks.
The Ancient Greeks used halteres as the ancient equivalent of the modern-day dumbbell in weight training. From lunges to bicep curls, Halteres were utilized as part of strength training regimens and to improve performance in certain sporting events, such as the long jump.
Halteres image Credit: Wikipedia
Although not officially part of the ancient Greek Olympic Games, weightlifting found its origins and roots in Greek culture. The use of Halteres and the lifting of heavy stones and rocks in everyday competition in Greece eventually gave rise to competitive weightlifting.
Milo of Croton
Milo of Croton was an infamous strongman in ancient Greece. A decorated Olympic wrestler and military leader, Milo of Croton was said to have carried a calf on his shoulders daily as a feat of strength (until it became a bull), as part of his daily training regimen. Legend also tells of how he bore a bull around the Olympia stadium and ate it in a single day as another act of godlike distinction. The famed Greek strongman was one of the first well-known weightlifters.
The Rise of Weightlifting
Weightlifting began its ascent to popularity with the spread of clubs throughout Europe and in circuses worldwide. It wasn’t until the first modern Olympics in 1896 that weightlifting became recognized as an Olympic sport, with the first athletes competing in the inaugural Olympic Games. In 1905, the first international federation for weightlifting was formed, undergoing several evolutions in competition to the present day.
What are the Olympic Lifting World Records?
Weightlifting world records are divided across distinct weight classes and genders.
Clean & Jerk
In men’s Olympic weightlifting, the current record holder across both the clean and jerk (C&J) and the snatch in the +109 kg weight class is Lasha Talakhadze from Georgia. The three-time Olympic champion currently holds the world record across each of these events with the highest combined total lifted.
In the 55 kg weight class for men, Om Yun-Chol of North Korea is the current undisputed record holder. With a snatch of 135kg, 166kg C&J, and the highest combined total lifted in his weight class, Om Yun-Chol lifts far above his body weight as one of the lightest lifters.
On the female side, Zhao Jinhong of China dominates the women’s 45kg weight class, with records set in 2024 and 2025 across both the snatch and clean and jerk events. Likewise, the heaviest weight class in the women’s draw is also dominated by China, with world records set by Li Yan and Li Wenwen for snatch and clean and jerk, respectively. Li Wenwen holds the current combined total for the heaviest lifts.
All-Time Greats
In terms of the all-time greats, Yurik Vardanian is regarded as one of the best weightlifters in history, due to his versatility and success in various weight classes, lifting enormous weights despite his size. He was also the first light-heavyweight to lift 400kg, setting 41 world records during his tenure.
Other notable weightlifters include Paul Anderson, often regarded as one of the strongest men to have ever lived, who set numerous records during his lifetime. Anderson was documented as having lifted the heaviest weight in human history, weighing 6,270 lbs, in the form of a backlift.
Naim Suleymanoglu is another example of an all-time great, able to lift three times his bodyweight despite being under five feet tall. Otherwise known as the Pocket Hercules, Naim Suleymanoglu is easily one of the greatest to have picked up a barbell.
What are the Benefits of Olympic Lifting for Athletes?
Even if you don’t plan to compete in competitive lifting, there are several benefits of Olympic lifting and weightlifting. Firstly, training can aid in improved speed, power, and strength, in various sports, according to studies.
Weightlifting can enhance performance in sports that require the use of specific muscle groups. Examples include squats and snatches, which can improve power and mobility in disciplines such as running and jumping, which are skills needed in almost every sport.
Weightlifting can bring benefits to sports such as swimming, football, gymnastics, and others that require muscular power and mobility in movement.
The power and increased mobility derived from Olympic lifting in sports such as swimming cannot be overstated. Through consistent weight training, athletes can enhance their performance by gaining more power and mobility in key movements, such as stroke cycles in swimming.
Alongside the advantages that Olympic weightlifting can bring to other sports, it also has general health and fitness benefits. Reduction in physical injury, improved bone health, and lower body fat are all benefits that can result from regular weight training.
What is the Ideal Olympic Weightlifting Physique?
The physique of an Olympic weightlifter varies depending on the weight class. In lighter weight classes, most athletes have an ectomorphic or lean physique, often with a muscular build (balanced mesomorphs). As the weight class increases and the weight required to lift becomes heavier, ectomorphy decreases, and athletes put on more muscle and fat to support this change.
In higher weight classes, athletes tend to have an endomorphic mesomorph physique, characterized by higher muscle-to-fat ratios.
Lifting Through the Ages
This article has explored the origins of Olympic weightlifting, from its ancient roots, as practiced by Egyptian warriors, to modern legends with superhuman strength. Lifting has undergone various evolutions throughout history, having a profound global impact that extends beyond the sport itself and leaves a lasting legacy.
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