In another update from the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Executive Board meetings in Tblisi, Georgia, the Olympic spots rescinded from countries with multiple doping violations have been ... Continue Reading
IWF Moves to Suspend Three Federations, Keep Suspended Lifters Out of Rio Olympics
In a statement published on their website, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has detailed a summary of their Executive Board's actions during meetings in Tblisi, Georgia, in the days before ... Continue Reading
Every American Olympic Medalist in Weightlifting (Infographic)
The United States has a long history of success in international weightlifting, and during the mid-20th century, America was one of the most successful nations in the sport. American legends like Tommy ... Continue Reading
Ilya Ilyin Also Tests Positive from 2008 Olympics, 6 Other Lifters Suspended Following Beijing Retests
In a public disclosure published on their website, the International Weightlifting Federation has reported that seven athletes have been provisionally suspended following reanalysis of their testing ... Continue Reading
Don’t Question the Depth: Vasily Polovnikov Back Squats 340kg (748 Pounds)
If you ever have the privilege of training at the Norwood Training Center outside of Boston, there's a good chance you'll catch some incredibly feats of strength. Currently, Norwood is the home of Russian ... Continue Reading
IOC Vice President: Expect Russian Weightlifting to Receive Sanction
Speaking at an event in Melbourne, International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice president John Coates said he expects the Russian Weightlifting Federation to receive a sanction from the International ... Continue Reading
Suspended Lifters Respond on Social Media, While Others Claim a Win for Fair Competition
News of the IWF suspensions following 2012 London Olympic doping sample retests has rocked the weightlifting world. So far, 10 lifters — including 2-time Olympic Champion Ilya Ilyin — have received ... Continue Reading
Here Are the New London Olympics Weightlifting Results (If Doping Suspensions Are Upheld)
In one of the most impactful announcements in recent weightlifting history, the IWF has provisionally suspended 10 weightlifters after retests from the 2012 London Olympic Games. These include multiple ... Continue Reading
It’s Official: IWF Suspends Ilya Ilyin, Other Olympic Champions
In the culmination of many rumors circulating over the past month — and a statement from IWF President Dr. Tamas Ajan while visiting Iran for the Fajr Cup — the International Weightlifting ... Continue Reading
Superheavyweight Lifter Mart Seim Has Crazy Hops
Mart Seim is a weightlifter on a role, and heading into August, he's in the conversation to be a medal contender at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Estonian superheavyweight doesn't quite have world-elite ... Continue Reading
Remember When Lu Xiaojun Overhead Squatted 220kg?
Lu Xiaojun has mobility and movement patterns that make (other) Olympic champions jealous. And while he's certainly not invincible — a clean & jerk bombout at the 2015 World Weightlifting Championships ... Continue Reading
Poke Is Easy, Protein-Packed, and Perfect for Summertime Gains
Summertime is basically here, and that means lots of sunshine, cookouts, and beach bodies. After spending the winter and dreary spring indoors, we’re all itching for a change of scenery and diet. If you’re ... Continue Reading
Olympic Weightlifting Championships by Year and Country (Infographic)
Olympic weightlifting is at its core an individual sport, and what ultimately matter's is each person's singular performance on the platform. (It's just us against the weight, after all.) But while partner ... Continue Reading
The Heaviest Clean & Jerks Ever Filmed
The snatch is athleticism, precision, and timing personified, but the clean & jerk is where the championships are won. Taking the heaviest weight possible from the ground to overhead is one of the most ... Continue Reading
Current Pan American Championships Men’s Standings and Qualification Points
Final Update: After a hard-fought Pan Am Championships, the U.S. men have earned one Olympic spot. USA Weightlifting has confirmed that spot will go to Kendrick Farris. The 2016 Rio Games will be Farris' ... Continue Reading
Fifty Years Later, Norb Schemansky Is Still the King of American Weightlifting
Last week, we highlighted some weightlifting techniques of yore. The split snatch, Continental clean, and clean & press were all used frequently back in the day, but have now gone by way of ... Continue Reading
How to Watch the 2016 Pan American Championships (Live!)
Update: The live stream from Colombian TV below seems to have been discontinued (bummer). We'll be searching for another high-quality one in the meantime and will update this post if we find ... Continue Reading
Weightlifter Vladimir Sedov Goes Full Heel, Turns Kazakh Nationals into the WWE
In the latest reaction from the IWF doping allegations and rumors, Vladimir Sedov used his first (and only) attempt at Kazakh Nationals to make a big statement: He thinks Alexsandr Ivanov is the true 94kg ... Continue Reading
Weightlifting’s Pioneers Used Techniques You’ll Never See Today
Weightlifting has come a long way since its Olympic debut in 1896. A quick scroll on Instagram will show athletes from around the world trying to perfect just two movements, the snatch and clean & ... Continue Reading
Sarah Robles On Bombing Out, Staying Focused, and Preparing for Her 2nd Olympics
Over the past four years, few American weightlifters have been surrounded by as many controversial topics as Sarah Robles. Following a 7th place finish at the 2012 London Olympics in the +75kg category, ... Continue Reading
Behdad Salimi Returns to Competition, Goes 205/225 at Fajr Cup
There's been speculation around the weightlifting world whether 2012 Olympic Champion Behdad Salimi could return from knee surgery in time for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Salimi — who injured his knee on a ... Continue Reading
CJ Cummings Just Wants to Break Records and Take A Nap
Just a few days after 2016 Weightlifting Nationals, Mike Graber and I got 15 year old weightlifting phenom CJ Cummings on the phone and chatted about his life, his goals, and training. Just to note ... Continue Reading
Win a Pair of Custom Nike Romaleos from BarBend and StrengthToSpare!
BarBend and artist Josh Peters (@strengthtospare) are teaming up to give away a pair of customized Nike Romaleos to one lucky winner. And anyone age 18 and up can enter to win — for free! Entering to win ... Continue Reading
Mohamed Ihab Takes Weightlifting to a Whole New Level
Mohamed Ihab Youssef is certainly a weightlifter to watch closely heading into the Rio Olympics. The 25 year old Egyptian lifter placed second in the 69kg category at the 2014 World Weightlifting ... Continue Reading