Can Anyone Do Olympic Weightlifting?
It’s widely reported that strength training is good for our health. Not only is it effective at helping gym goers gain muscle, but it also reduces the risk of back pain, osteoporosis, arthritis and even depression.
Despite sharing all these benefits and more, Olympic weightlifting has fewer advocates — perhaps because it’s technical, difficult to master, and a little misunderstood. But we’d argue that it’s a great sport for people regardless of their age, gender or experience.
Here are seven reasons why anyone can and should do Olympic weightlifting…
7 reasons why anyone can do Olympic Weightlifting
#1: It’s never too late to start
No matter how old you are, it’s never too late to start Olympic weightlifting. Not only is it good for developing your strength, but it also helps with flexibility, core strength, and muscle density, which gain importance as we get older. It’s great for young people too as it teaches discipline and builds confidence.
#2: No experience needed
The snatch and the clean and jerk are technical lifts. But you start by learning the fundamentals of each movement using very light, manageable weights — often with a PVC pipe or an empty bar. So there’s no need to worry if the sport is completely new to you — after all, we all had to start somewhere!
#3: The focus is on performance, not aesthetics
So much of the fitness industry is focused on appearance; how our bodies look, rather than what they’re capable of. That can lead to all sorts of body confidence issues and, in extreme cases, eating disorders. With Olympic weightlifting, the focus is on performance, not aesthetics.
#4: It improves coordination
The Olympic lifts are whole-body movements that require coordination, rhythm and timing. You'll have a greater body awareness from practising the sport, which will have all sorts of benefits in your daily life.
#5: It boosts sports performance
Olympic weightlifting is an excellent training discipline if you’re looking to boost your performance in another sport as it improves strength, speed, power and flexibility. Even if you’re an endurance athlete such as a marathon runner, the snatch and clean and jerk can help build a strong foundation and improve your running efficiency.
#6: You’ll develop a great physique
As mentioned, the snatch and the clean and jerk are full-body exercises. They work your legs, glutes, core, back, abs, shoulders and arms, so you’ll burn fat and increase your muscle mass. Every time you lift, you’ll get an amazing workout!
#7: Weightlifting is challenging
Becoming technically proficient at the snatch and clean and jerk can take years of practice. There's always a way to improve, which provides a different experience compared to traditional strength training. The Olympic lifts are a unique athletic challenge that you don’t usually get in the gym.
If you feel inspired to give Olympic weightlifting a go, drop us a line at info@memsweightlifting.com or for more experienced athletes, book a drop-in session at our Camberwell gym.
