Personal

Weightlifting

I am a recreational subpar “Olympic” weightlifter. “Olympic” is in quotation because athletes in the sport refer to it simply as weightlifting, but it is more commonly recognized as Olympic weightlifting by the general public.

Weightlifting consists of two main lifts: Snatch and Clean & Jerk. Both lifts test a lifter’s ability to lift the maximal weights from ground to overhead. The snatch does it in one continuous motion, while the clean and jerk does it in two motions: the clean, in which the lifter brings the bar to the shoulders, the jerk, in which the lifter raises the bar overhead. Both lifts are quite technical, and it would take a lifetime to refine one’s technique. This is the beauty of weightlifting; one can actually enjoy the process rather than focusing on the outcome.

Contrary to common misconceptions, weightlifting is one of the safest sports— as long as it is done properly. I have been practicing weightlifting for over five years and have not experienced any major injuries. However, there is always a risk, but for me, the risk-benefit trade-off favors weightlifting. As we age, we lose muscle mass, and weightlifting is one of the best ways to slow or even reverse this process.

One interesting aspect of weightlifting is the use of the metric system to express a lifter’s body weight and the weights loaded on the bar, which are measured in kilograms.

My current personal records (PRs) for the two lifts are, Snatch 96kg/211lbs, and C&J 115kg/253lbs. I also cleaned 122.5kg/270lbs and squatted 180kg/396lbs. I also qualified for national meets.