Olympic weightlifting requires an incredible amount of technique, strength, flexibility, agility, balance, focus, and determination. There’s a lot to work on — and that means that getting better usually means learning from a lot of mistakes. We spoke to some pretty extraordinary weightlifters to find out what they wish they’d known before they picked up a bar.
Ingrid Marcum
2009 US National Champion (75kg), Owner of BGB Fitness
“I wish I had learned much earlier how important it would have been for me to develop better stability and control. I came from twenty years of gymnastics and was even flexible for a gymnast. Since most coaches are used to seeing people fight to get into positions and work to increase their mobility, I was initially praised for the extreme arch in my back and my enormous range of motion.
“However, because I didn’t always have great control throughout my entire range of motion, it took a tremendous toll on my body over the years, resulting in many chronic injuries and pain throughout my career. Thankfully, I’ve been able to rebuild my foundation by improving my movement variability, but I would have been been much more solid had I learned that years ago.”
Mike Burgener
Level 5 Senior International Weightlifting Coach, Head Coach of CrossFit Weightlifting
“A great coach will pride him or herself in taking complex movement patterns and making them simple to learn and achieve!”
Dr. Aaron Horschig
Competitive Weightlifter of 11 years (85kg), Doctor of Physical Therapy, Owner Squat University
“Technique is the most important aspect in weightlifting. The better your technique, the more potential you will have to lift greater weight. For this reason, every single time you touch the barbell, it should be your goal to perform a perfect rep. With this mindset, good things will happen.”
Jessie Humeston
2 Time World University Team Member (63kg)
“Something I wish I’d known before I started is that the years of weightlifting would take a very hard toll on my body, particularly my knees and back. However, all of the aches and pains I feel remind me of some of my sweetest memories and greatest adventures. It is a constant reminder that I have sacrificed and put everything I have into being a competitor, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Sonny Webster
2016 British Olympic Weightlifting Competitor (94kg), Rio Olympics
“I wish I had a better understanding of how to manage my body weight as a youth athlete, so that I didn’t keep holding my weight down and restricting my development.”
Sam Poeth
2013 National Champion (75kg), Holder of 4 University National Titles and 2 American Open titles
“I wish I’d known that weightlifting would become a lifestyle. It’s not just a hobby, it’s a piece of who we are and everything we do circles around it. I recently joked with another weightlifter that we don’t plan weightlifting around our lives; weightlifting is our life. We schedule our family time, holidays, and social life around training times and competitions. Sometimes they fit and sometimes they don’t, and people get frustrated, but eventually they learn to respect the dedication we have to being the best at our craft.”
Greg Everett
Head Coach of the USA Weightlifting National Champion Team Catalyst Athletics, author of Olympic Weightlifting: A Complete Guide for Athletes & Coaches
“There really aren’t any secrets or tricks, so don’t waste time searching for them. Master the fundamentals and commit to long term, steady progress; continually searching for shortcuts instead ensures limited success and a lot of backward steps.”
Featured image: @sonnywebstergb
