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.

The barbell is pulled as high as the lifter can manage (typically to mid chest height) (the pull) at which point the barbell is flipped overhead. With relatively light weights (as in the "power snatch") locking of the arms may not require re-bending the knees. However, as performed in contests, the weight is always heavy enough to demand that the lifter receive the bar in a squatting position, while at the same time flipping the weight so it moves in an arc directly overhead to locked arms (the quick drop). When the lifter is secure in this position, he rises (overhead squat), completing the lift.



The Clean & Jerk

A lifter can lift more weight above one's head as compared to the snatch. The clean and jerk is a two movement lift. The clean portion of the lift refers to the lifter explosively pulling the weight from the floor to a racked position across the deltoids and clavicles. From the standing position, the lifter bends the knees and then straightens them in order to propel the barbell upwards. The lifter pushes slightly with the arms. This pushes the lifter underneath the barbell. A split jerk is most often used, in which one leg lunges forward while the other moves backward. The lifter must hold the barbell overhead, keep the arms locked, and move the legs directly underneath the torso so that the entire body lines up in a single plane.

Lifters compete based on weight classes and age. Competing lifters can wear only a single-ply tight onelet,(similar to a wrestler's suit), a t-shirt, single wraps for knees and wrists, and a lifter's belt. NASF Olympic Lifting is an "All Natural" Competitive Field for weightlifters electing to remain drug-free during training and competition.