Bodybuilding is the process of maximizing muscle development. Someone who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of certified judges, who assign points based on their aesthetic appearance.

Figure is a class of physique-exhibition events for women; while bearing a close resemblance to female bodybuilding it emphasizes muscle tone over muscle size. These competitions are frequently held as part of the same events as bodybuilding contests.  Women's Bodybuilding and Figure, are two distinct forms of competition.

Power lifting is a strength sport, consisting of three events: the squat, the bench press, and the dead lift. At a power lifting meet the events will follow in order: squat, then bench press, and the dead lift will be the final lift of the meet.

Olympic Weightlifting is a strength sport, consisting of two events:

The Snatch

The snatch is one of the two current Olympic Weightlifting events (the other being the clean and jerk). The essence of the event is to lift a barbell from the platform to locked arms overhead in one smooth continuous movement.