How to Get Into Olympic Weight Lifting

Olympic weight lifting is a very specialized sport. Two-time Olympic weight lifter Wes Barnett advises prospective participants to start by finding and working with certified coaches.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Weight Gain Products
• Health Club Memberships
• Home Gyms
• Plate Weights
• Weight Belts
• Weight Benches
• Weight Lifting Gloves

1. Decide if Olympic weight lifting is something that you want to do.
2. Contact the United States Weightlifting Federation by visiting its Web site (usaweightlifting.org). This is the official organization for Olympic weight lifting. Tell them where you live (city and state); they will be able to tell you where to find clubs and coaches.
3. Go to the nearest certified club or gym in your area for a site inspection.
4. Select a gym and a certified coach to work with. Don't start on your own.
5. Learn to go through the steps in lifting by working backward. Barnett says, "The biggest mistake people make is to try and get in position and lift from the floor. It is important to learn backward - from the point where the bar is in the air. Break down the lift from the last moment to the first. Coaches know this and will teach you where your body is supposed to be in the course of a lift."

Tips & Warnings

• Only go to clubs that have been certified by the International Weightlifting Federation.
• Develop a comfort level with a coach. Barnett says, "Look for someone who has had success with other lifters. Levels vary, but find someone who has the certification so you begin to pursue the sport properly right from the start."
• Find lifters who have worked with your coach and interview them about their experiences.
• Make sure you're in reasonable shape before starting any weight lifting program.
• Try and find a program that works with your schedule so that you will stick with the training.
• Power lifting and Olympic weight lifting are very different. Don't think that just because you are a power lifter you can move right into Olympic-style weight lifting.