Signs of a Weightlifter (2002)

 

Everyone perceives the world through the prism of their own stereotypes. 

If you ask someone who has seen weightlifting competitions but has never actually done it to demonstrate how weightlifters lift a maximum weight, this inexperienced individual will almost certainly demonstrate movements that are completely unlike weightlifting technique - but these movements will be exactly how they would lift the barbell themselves. That is, they will all be slow and performed largely through the effort of crooked arms and back flexion.

Weightlifters, on the other hand, use quick, often subtle movements in their lifts, accomplished almost entirely by the legs. Their arms are used in relatively passive roles: either as taut ropes, as straightened supports, or as a barrier to prevent the weight from rolling off the support. As for the back, it is maximally extended and firmly "anchored" during lifts to prevent spinal injuries. 

Of course, the differences between weightlifters and the average person don't end there. For example, after a clean, the average person will hold the barbell in front of them, suspended, without support from their deltoids; when lifting the barbell from their chest, they will almost certainly tilt their head back and look at the bar to improve balance, etc. 

After a clean, however, the bar is firmly fixed on the deltoids by a high elbow bend, and after lifting the bar from the chest, it immediately appears directly above the shoulders, with the shoulder blades locked in place, due to the pronounced thrust of the head. 

The above-mentioned motor and fixation characteristics ("technique") allow weightlifting enthusiasts to confidently identify a weightlifter even when they lift a completely insignificant weight or even just imitate the barbell lift. (A truly confident identification of a weightlifter can be achieved by exceptional precision and audacity in their handling of the equipment, that is, when they remain in place during lifts, despite the most abrupt and wide-ranging "openings" in the lifts; when their "scissors" during lifts from the chest combine lightning speed and rigidity with significant length and depth; when their head while holding the barbell on their chest, does not jerk of fall back convulsively, but, despite the desire to free their throat, remains in a natural, calm position above the bar pressed firmly against their throat, etc.).

But is it always possible to rely on these motor and fixation characteristics to determine who is a weightlifter and who is not? 

Here, there follow numerous still photos of elite lifters exhibiting obviously bad technique (Duganov, Stogov, Plyukfelder, Vlasov, Zhabotinsky, Kirzhinov, Vardanyan and many others).

A hunched, stooped back, crooked arms during the lift, looking down at the bar, holding the bar in front of them, and a pronounced press bend and jerk - accomplished masters exhibit almost every quirk of novices. 

So what should we do now? 

Deny these celebrated champions the right to be considered weightlifters? 

Of course not. 

Simply, when determining who is a weightlifter and who is not, we must consider not only the meticulous technique but also THE MAGNITUDE OF THE WEIGHT LIFTED, that is, the achieved result - which is ultimately the GOAL of the sport. 

Why is it important to consider not only technique but also results? 

Because weightlifting is a specific sporting specialty, and high results cannot be achieved without some serious specialization, without intense and lengthy training. 

So, if a person demonstrates high results in weightlifting, they have seriously specialized in lifting and, therefore, are weightlifters. 

Impeccable classical technique is, of course, great - it's a delight for weightlifting enthusiasts and one of the main ways to avoid injury. However, athletic performance depends not only on technique but also on many other factors, the importance of which is comparable to, or even greater than, technique.

If we take the total contribution of all the factors that influence athletic performance as 100%, then the contributions of individual factors to this result can reach, in my opinion, approximately the following values: 

an athlete's passion for sports and, somewhat related to it, work capacity and diligence, on average bring up to 15% of success, 

the competence of the coach - up to 10%, 

the athlete's financial support - up to 15%, 

a favorable ratio of leg and arm sizes - up to 5%,

the athlete's training experience (especially how early they begin weightlifting) - up to 20%,

anabolic steroids taken by the athlete - up to 20%,

perfected technique, directly, in itself, in a specific lift, brings very little, no more than 5% of success - but it is true, due to its indirect influence, that is, due to the fact that good technique allows you to more completely and reliably avoid sports injuries and therefore, increase and extend the training period, the importance of correct technique can reach 15%.

Only up to 15%. 

So, although good technique is the most obvious, immediately noticeable characteristic of a weightlifter, relying on technique alone to determine who is and who is not a weightlifter is not. 

The most important thing is the result itself. If it is high (first-class level and above) even with the most  clumsy motor and bracing skills, then the athlete achieving this result is undoubtedly a true weightlifter.

One of our kind. 

Enjoy Your Lifting!