Weightlifting in the Olympics

Off Topic
1

A few days ago my friends and i were talking about powerlifting and how it would be impractical for it to be in the Olympics. After some arguing we eventually settled on a way to include powerlifting (and some other lifts) in the Olympics. Here is what we came up with:

The competitive lifts would be- Snatch, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Press, Bench Press, Front Squat, Back Squat and Deadlift.

Each lifter would compete in ONE lift and would get as many chances as he/she wants. (Instead of the usual 3.)

First to go would be the snatch, then Clean and jerk, then clean and press, then bench, then front squat, then back squat and lastly deadlift.

This way all 7 lifts could be tested in the olympics. Since a lifter has to only about one lift, he gets as many chances as he wants since he won’t be as fatigued.

Solutions to potential Problems:
Powerlifting Gear- Gear wouldn’t be allowed in the olympics. Geared powerlifitng will have to be its own, separate sport.

The Press- The Clean and Press would have to be judged better than it was before.

Sumo vs Conventional Deadlifting- Both would be valid in the deadlift.

I posted this to see what everyone thinks about this. This seems practical and like it could work. It would also be interesting to see how lifters would train for each lift now that they would only have one lift to worry about.

So what you all think of this?

2

That a terrible idea. Just Awful.

3

[quote]Swolegasm wrote:
That a terrible idea. Just Awful. [/quote]

4

a 3 lift max is so that people don’t hog a platform when the moment is over / not happening.

I like the idea but your execution sucks. One lift per lifter? WTF? Why?

I would take the 3 big lifts (squat, bench, deadlift) and combine them into 1 event and award a medal on total weight. Then you’d be “true” to powerlifting.

5


This pretty much sums it up for me

6

I don’t see a problem with having two separate lifting sports in the Olympics, any more than I see a problem with two different running or throwing sports.

I think powerlifting would have trouble getting in because it is such a minority thing, and there is so much steroid use.

It’d be great if it got in though

7

Sure it’d be fun to see on the TV, but too much subjectivity when it comes to the PL lifts and proper depths…With the snatch and C&J, the weight either got locked out or it didn’t. You see the shit storm PL creates with it’s many feds and standards. And that’s fine! Makes no difference to me, but Olympics ready it is not.

8

[quote]lnname wrote:

I think powerlifting would have trouble getting in because it is such a minority thing, and there is so much steroid use.

It’d be great if it got in though[/quote]

My guess is that it is both the things you mentioned (or at least the perception of steroid use as I’m sure steroids are used in just about every olympic sport). Another factor working against it is that it isn’t really TV friendly. The average person just isn’t going to tune in to watch a few hours of squats.

I’d be willing to bet that if weightlifting had not been in the olympics since forever, it wouldn’t be an olympic sport either due to the drug perception thing.

It really is a shame that the olympics has “stronger” in its motto, but then really doesn’t have many strength sports.

9

[quote]deadliftgoal500 wrote:
A few days ago my friends and i were talking about powerlifting and how it would be impractical for it to be in the Olympics. After some arguing we eventually settled on a way to include powerlifting (and some other lifts) in the Olympics. Here is what we came up with:

The competitive lifts would be- Snatch, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Press, Bench Press, Front Squat, Back Squat and Deadlift.

Each lifter would compete in ONE lift and would get as many chances as he/she wants. (Instead of the usual 3.)

First to go would be the snatch, then Clean and jerk, then clean and press, then bench, then front squat, then back squat and lastly deadlift.

This way all 7 lifts could be tested in the olympics. Since a lifter has to only about one lift, he gets as many chances as he wants since he won’t be as fatigued.

Solutions to potential Problems:
Powerlifting Gear- Gear wouldn’t be allowed in the olympics. Geared powerlifitng will have to be its own, separate sport.

The Press- The Clean and Press would have to be judged better than it was before.

Sumo vs Conventional Deadlifting- Both would be valid in the deadlift.

I posted this to see what everyone thinks about this. This seems practical and like it could work. It would also be interesting to see how lifters would train for each lift now that they would only have one lift to worry about.

So what you all think of this?

[/quote]

Horrible.

You’re trying to promote PL at the expense of an existing and quite successful OLY. OLY is fine just the way it is. PL’s problems are self-inflicted - the ridiculous gear, the variation in rules, the numerous feds, etc.

So where is your logic?

OLY is fine and healthy.

PL is not.

To “fix” PL you dilute OLY??

Makes no sense.

10

That makes no sense at all.

11

What if powerlifting were its own olympic event? You arrange it the same way as meets
(3 attempts at SQ, BP, DL)

Don’t modify Olympic lifting at all, just leave it as it is. Merging the two sports would be a mess.

I’m sure an olympic rules committee, the type of which sets rules for every other event, would be able to figure out a rule on squat depth that makes everyone reasonably happy. I think they could sort something out. They could (somewhat) solve the drug problem, or at least hold the athletes to the same standard as other events (ethical debate about drug testing aside)

The real problem is gear. If the olympics decided 100% raw with no wraps or belts, virtually everyone would be pissed and participation wouldn’t be very good.

If they go with the same rules as a raw PL fed, then they would still marginalize the gear guys, and that’s a huge portion of the sport’s best athletes. Too many huge names to name.

And if they allow certain types of gear…that’s a debate in and of itself. It would make the “poly suits” debate for swimmers look like no big deal. Or maybe “olympics-issued” gear.

It would be great to see PL in the olympics, but the gear decision is a mess and there doesn’t seem to be an answer to it that allows fair competition and availability for the sports best athletes. It blows. I would love to see the teams that the Russians and Chinese put together. I did a raw PL meet with a bunch of Russian guys who visited the states…holy shit it was awesome.

12

I gave this thread a rating equivalent to my rating of your idea.

13

[quote]TheBodyGuard wrote:

[quote]deadliftgoal500 wrote:
A few days ago my friends and i were talking about powerlifting and how it would be impractical for it to be in the Olympics. After some arguing we eventually settled on a way to include powerlifting (and some other lifts) in the Olympics. Here is what we came up with:

The competitive lifts would be- Snatch, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Press, Bench Press, Front Squat, Back Squat and Deadlift.

Each lifter would compete in ONE lift and would get as many chances as he/she wants. (Instead of the usual 3.)

First to go would be the snatch, then Clean and jerk, then clean and press, then bench, then front squat, then back squat and lastly deadlift.

This way all 7 lifts could be tested in the olympics. Since a lifter has to only about one lift, he gets as many chances as he wants since he won’t be as fatigued.

Solutions to potential Problems:
Powerlifting Gear- Gear wouldn’t be allowed in the olympics. Geared powerlifitng will have to be its own, separate sport.

The Press- The Clean and Press would have to be judged better than it was before.

Sumo vs Conventional Deadlifting- Both would be valid in the deadlift.

I posted this to see what everyone thinks about this. This seems practical and like it could work. It would also be interesting to see how lifters would train for each lift now that they would only have one lift to worry about.

So what you all think of this?

[/quote]

Horrible.

You’re trying to promote PL at the expense of an existing and quite successful OLY. OLY is fine just the way it is. PL’s problems are self-inflicted - the ridiculous gear, the variation in rules, the numerous feds, etc.

So where is your logic?

OLY is fine and healthy.

PL is not.

To “fix” PL you dilute OLY??

Makes no sense. [/quote]

OP must be a liberal

14

I’d like to see strongmen in the olympics. No gear, pretty easily judged and its interesting to watch. Plus it fits with the spirit of the games i think.

15

does op even workout?

holymac is doubtful

16

[quote]JLD2k3 wrote:

[quote]TheBodyGuard wrote:

[quote]deadliftgoal500 wrote:
A few days ago my friends and i were talking about powerlifting and how it would be impractical for it to be in the Olympics. After some arguing we eventually settled on a way to include powerlifting (and some other lifts) in the Olympics. Here is what we came up with:

The competitive lifts would be- Snatch, Clean and Jerk, Clean and Press, Bench Press, Front Squat, Back Squat and Deadlift.

Each lifter would compete in ONE lift and would get as many chances as he/she wants. (Instead of the usual 3.)

First to go would be the snatch, then Clean and jerk, then clean and press, then bench, then front squat, then back squat and lastly deadlift.

This way all 7 lifts could be tested in the olympics. Since a lifter has to only about one lift, he gets as many chances as he wants since he won’t be as fatigued.

Solutions to potential Problems:
Powerlifting Gear- Gear wouldn’t be allowed in the olympics. Geared powerlifitng will have to be its own, separate sport.

The Press- The Clean and Press would have to be judged better than it was before.

Sumo vs Conventional Deadlifting- Both would be valid in the deadlift.

I posted this to see what everyone thinks about this. This seems practical and like it could work. It would also be interesting to see how lifters would train for each lift now that they would only have one lift to worry about.

So what you all think of this?

[/quote]

Horrible.

You’re trying to promote PL at the expense of an existing and quite successful OLY. OLY is fine just the way it is. PL’s problems are self-inflicted - the ridiculous gear, the variation in rules, the numerous feds, etc.

So where is your logic?

OLY is fine and healthy.

PL is not.

To “fix” PL you dilute OLY??

Makes no sense. [/quote]

OP must be a liberal[/quote]

Huh? How the hell did you arrive at that conclusion, Einstein?

17

I think he’s making fun of BG for being obstinate and loudmouthed again

18

Here’s my plan:

Squat, bench, and deadlift and it’s run like a regular meet. Same weight classes and shit like that. I think there would have to be very strict judging. It would have to be raw, as well. Maybe judges from the IPF or the USAPL.

CS