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Australian Weightlifting Federation Inc Fact Sheet
Introduction
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) was founded in 1905. although World Championships were officially recognised going back to the late nineteenth century.The IWF now has well over 150 member nations. Competition is conducted equally for males and females Weightlifting in Australia began in the early days of our history. Many unofficial strength competitions were held throughout the colony. Organised weightlifting started however with the formation on May 8th, 1920 of the Victorian Weightlifting Association with other state associations being formed subsequently. The national governing body, the Australian Amateur Weight Lifting Federation (AAWLF) as it was known then, was formed on January 26th, 1947. Although the sport has in recent decades been dominated by Eastern European nations, Australia has an excellent record at major international events. At the Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games, Vern Barberis was awarded the bronze medal in the 67,Skg class and at Los Angeles in 1984, two Australians gained medals - Dean Lukin the gold medal in the superheavyweight class and Robert Kabbas the silver in the 82,Skg class.At the 1996 games in Atlanta, Stefan Botey became our fourth Olympic medallist with a bronze in the superheavies.Australia has also dominated recent Commonwealth Games, winning the team title at four of the last five games.
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The Olympic Lifts
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first lift, called the SNATCH, is one of the fastest movements in all sports.The bar is
taken from the ground to full arms' length overhead in a single continuous movement.The
best performers in the world can lift well over double their own bodyweight in this way.
DESCRIPTION: The bar shall be placed horizontally in front of the lifter's legs. It shall be gripped, palms downwards and pulled in a single movement from the ground to the full extent of both arms vertically above the head, while straightening the legs. The bar shall pass with a continuous movement along the body of which no part other than the feet may touch the ground during the execution of the lift The weight which has been lifted, must be maintained in the final motionless position, the arms and legs extended, the feet on the same line, until the referees signal to replace the bar on the platform.The turning over of the wrists must not take place until the bar has passed the top of the lifter's head. The lifter may recover in his own time from the squat position. The referees signal shall be given as soon as the lifter becomes absolutely motionless in all parts of the body. The second lift, called the CLEAN AND JERK, allows for even heavier weights to be lifted as it is completed in two stages.The athlete first lifts the bar to the shoulders (usually by employing a squatting motion under the apparatus) - this is called the "clean" - then thrusts (or "jerks") the bar to full arms length overhead. Some lifters have achieved a weight equivalent to three times their own bodyweight, while the top superheavies are capable of lifting in excess of 250kg - over a quarter of a tonne!
DESCRIPTION: lst part: Clean - The bar shall be placed horizontally in front of the lifter's legs. It shall be gripped, palms downwards and brought in a single movement from the ground to shoulders while bending the legs.The bar must not touch the chest before the final position,it shall then rest on the clavicles or on the chest or on the arms fully bentthe feet shall be returned to the same line, legs struight, before performing the jerk. The lifter may make this recovery in his own time. 2nd part:jerk - Bend the legs and extend them, as well as the arms, so as to bring the bar to the full stretch of the arms vertically extended. Return the feet to the same line, arms and legs extended ad await the referees signal to replace the bar on the platform. The referees signal shall be given as soon as the lifter becomes absolutely motionless in all parts of the body.
(Sequence photos courtesy of Denis Reno's Weightlifter's Newsletter and International Olympic Lifter magazine) |
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Competition
Weightlifting is contested in ten bodyweight classes for males and nine for females.
Men's competition is
conducted for athletes weighing (under 47kg,51kg U18,U16), under 56kg,
62kg,69kg,77kg,85kg,94kg,105kg and for those
weighing in excess of 105kg (known as superheavies)
Women's competition is held in the following weight classes - (under 40kg, 44kg U18,U16), under 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 75kg, and over 75kg
As well as open age competition, championships are held internationally for juniors (under 20 years old) and at national level for youths (under 16 and under 18) and school children.
Competition takes place on platforms four metres square where each athlete attempts two different types of lifts - the Snatch and the Clean and jerk. Each performer is given three attempts with their highest successful weight on each exercise being added together to make a Total. At the 0lympic Games and many international events placing in each bodyweight class is determined solely by these totals, however, at World Championships and Commonwealth Games and some other internationals, medals are also awarded for the individual lifts.
Lifts are made using a metal barbell
approximately two metres long (usually called the "bar"), on which metal and
rubberised disks are added.The heaviest disks are made of steel with rubber coating to
reduce noise and to lessen damage to the platform. These disks are colour coded according
to an international convention to aid recognition.The heaviest are 25kg and are red in
colour, followed by 20kg (blue), 15kg (yellow) and 10kg (black or green). Metal disks come
in units of 5kg, 2.5kg and 1.25kg.The load is fixed in place with metal collars which
weigh 2.5kg each. Competition weights are always made up of multiples of 1.25kg, although
records can be attempted by using smaller disks.(A record can be exceeded by 0.5kg).
As with all sports, there are detailed technical rules. In weightlifting, these are enforced by three referees who adjudicate on each lift by showing on a special display either a red or a white light.A red light for a missed lift or one judged to be not in accordance with the rules and a white for a valid lift. In the case of a disagreement between the referees, the i-naiority opinion prevails.At the highest levels of competition, a jury is also used to oversee the three referees (although they do not directly decide on validity of lifts) and the overall conduct of the competition.
The competitors wear a brief costume designed to allow freedom of movement.Special weightlifting shoes are used to ensure solid footing and many wear cloth or rubberised wrappings to provide warmth and support.Leather belts around the waist are also popular for the same reasons, while a chalk like substance is applied to the hands to prevent the bar from slipping from the athiete's grip.
