History - how weightlifting developed.
Drawings in Egyptian tombs, for example, depict various items for strength training, such as sandbags. Similar historical practices can also be found in Ancient Greece and Rome.
Although it may seem that even our ancestors also took care of their health and physique, like many of us today, it may not be so easy. One of the theories of the origin of weightlifting is that these workouts were more of a means of survival.Weightlifting: a warrior's sport
Given the history of wars and conflicts, many of which were fought manually, it is not difficult to imagine how much strength, power, speed and size were desirable characteristics of a warrior. Hence, training to improve these qualities would give an advantage on the battlefield.
You can still see evidence that weight training started with fighting in many of today's competitions. Olympic sports such as discus, shot put, hammer and javelin throw demonstrate basic skills.
Modern strongman competitions also reflect these military skills. Participants are invited to move heavy objects, the use of which could be seen in the construction tasks of previous years or in any number of occupations that require volume and strength, for example, for military purposes.
Enter Olympic Weightlifting
Olympic weightlifting was officially introduced in 1896 in Athens. Initially, only men could participate. More than 100 years later, women's weightlifting became an Olympic sport, in 2000 at the Olympic Games in Sydney, and had great success at the subsequent Olympic Games.
Weightlifting at the Olympic Games had a difficult start. After its first appearance in 1896, it disappeared from the 1900 Games. Then she reappeared in 1904 and did not return to the Olympic Games again until 1920, when she was recognized as an independent.
Initially, some competition criteria were used in weightlifting at the Olympic Games, which would seem unusual in today's competitions. One example is the use of lifting dumbbells and barbells with one and two hands. There were also no weight classes in these early competitions.
In 1928, the format of this world competition became more standardized. Two exercises started this year and have stood the test of time include a jerk and a push. A third movement, the chest lift and bench press, was also used in 1928, but was later discontinued in 1972 because it was too difficult to judge.
Today, men can compete in seven different weight categories in Olympic weightlifting, from 61 kg to 109+ kg. Women have seven classes of their own, from 49 kilograms to 87+ kilograms. Countries are allowed two participants in each class, provided that Olympic qualification standards are met.
Powerlifting as a sport
The techniques and culture of powerlifting differ significantly from those that exist in Olympic weightlifting. Powerlifters compete to see who can lift the heaviest weight. Their activities include three exercises: deadlift, bench press and squats.
Although powerlifting is popular, it is not a recognized Olympic sport. However, you can find powerlifting as part of the Special Olympics. These contenders began participating in the 2013 Women's and Men's World Powerlifting Championships with the support of the International Powerlifting Federation.
Evolution of weightlifting equipment
Over the years, not only weightlifting has developed, but also the equipment that these athletes use. It is said that the word "dumbbell", for example, came from a device developed in the early 18th century to train ringing bells, but without actually ringing bells, hence the term "dumbbell".
Kettlebells and maces also have an early origin, possibly from the first decades of the 1800s. Barbells, which originally used round balls that could be filled with sand or gravel, appeared in the late 1800s. Over time, these balls were replaced by more flexible plates or discs.
Machines with free weight and coarse cables have also evolved. As a result, a wide variety of exercise equipment is now available both for use in the gym and at home.
The future of weightlifting equipment
As for equipment, barbells and dumbbells are likely to remain the basis of strength training, even if there are a few minor design improvements. Adjustable dumbbells are one example of how these weights have been modified to better meet the needs of modern weightlifters.
Kettlebells, expanders will also contribute to future weightlifting training, but perhaps to a lesser extent. These devices do not always provide the resistance needed by weightlifters for muscle growth, which makes other equipment more suitable for this sport.
As for cars, there is no limit for new developments. Technology makes these advances even more exciting by offering weightlifters and powerlifters a range of possibilities, from equipment that looks like a mirror to machines that can develop more personalized training programs.
No matter what equipment you decide to use, you will be able to train like an Olympic athlete, which also means achieving their results.
