How Do You 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. Decide if Olympic weight lifting is something that you want to do. 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. Go to the nearest certified club or gym in your area for a site inspection. Select a gym and a certified coach to work with. Don’t start on your own. 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.
