Weightlifting is one of the world’s oldest and most respected sports. Competitors in modern weightlifting try to lift the maximum weight on a barbell. While the sport may appear simple, it requires a great deal of coordination, focus, and most importantly, strength. The top weightlifter is often known as the “Strongest Man in the World,” or in the case of women’s weightlifting, the “Strongest Woman in the World.
History of Weightlifting
The origins of weightlifting as a sport have been traced to ancient China, Egypt, and Greece. In 6th century B.C., a Greek man named Bybon was able to lift a 315 pound rock and his achievement was inscribed on the rock itself. On March 28, 1891, the first world weightlifting contest was held in London, England. In the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, weightlifting was included as a program under athletics, but it wasn’t until 1920 that it was recognized as a sport, becoming a mainstay of the games. Currently, there are eight weight classes for men and seven weight classes for women. They compete in two disciplines, namely, the snatch and the clean-and-jerk.
Important Figures in Weightlifting
Other than Olympic weightlifting, there’s also weightlifting which is more associated with the sport of bodybuilding. Here, weightlifting is the main part of a training regime whereby they build their bodies so they can show off their ripped muscles in competition. Just like any other sport, weightlifting has its heroes. George Hackenschmidt was an Estonian man nicknamed “The Russian Lion” who invented the exercise known as the “hack squat.” Hackernschmidt also helped to make bench pressing popular and he set multiple weightlifting records. Known as the “Father of Bodybuilding,” Eugen Sandow was so popular that he was in a movie composed entirely of him flexing his muscles. Perhaps, the most formidable Olympic weightlifter in America was John Davis. Winning the gold medal in the heavyweight division of the men’s weightlifting competition in the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games, he held every single world record in his class, at one time.
Tips for People Interested in Weightlifting
Before anything else, you have to find the right equipment. If you cannot afford to get your own equipment, it will be a great idea to join a fitness club so you will have access to the equipment. Diet is very critical in weightlifting. You will need lots of protein to help your muscles recover from the workouts. It’s also important to speak to someone who has at least a little experience in weightlifting because you don’t want to be doing the exercises wrongly and damage your body. Don’t try to do too much at once, either. Give yourself time to recover between workouts.
Benefits of Weightlifting
Bodybuilding isn’t just a sport where you get to show off your muscles. It actually benefits the body. It increases bond density, which lessens the risk of osteoporosis. Lifting weight also improves your vascular health as it lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol. It even lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of diabetes. For women, weightlifting lowers the risk of breast cancer and reduces PMS symptoms. It even decreases the odds of catching colds and other illnesses.
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