There are two weightlifting events at the Olympic Games - the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk.
The Snatch
This event is performed with a single motion lift, raising the weighted bar from the floor to an overhead position. The lifter may catch the barbell in a squat position, then press up to a standing position to finish. The Snatch has been described by some as the fastest movement in Olympic sports.
- Womens 75+ kg category - Snatch record set by Meiyuan DING set in Sydney 2000 of 135 kg
- Mens 105+ kg category - Snatch record set by Hossein REZAZADEH set in Sydney 2000 of 212.5 kg
The Clean and Jerk
This event is a two-part lift. The first part of the movement, the Clean, is when the bar is raised from the floor to the shoulders. The second part, the jerk, is when the athlete presses the bar overhead with an explosive drive of the legs and hips.
- Womens 75+ kg category - Clean & Jerk record set by Gonghong TANG set in Athens 2004 of 182.5 kg
- Mens 105+ kg category - Clean & Jerk record set by Hossein REZAZADEH set in Athens 2004 of 262.5 kg
Related Pages
- More sporting records
- Bench Press world records
- Weightlifting home
- Weight Lifting at the Olympic Games