Development History Of Weightlifting

Modern weightlifting began in the 18th century, with weightlifting performances often held in circuses in London, England. In the early 19th century, weightlifting clubs began to be established in the UK. Initially, the two sections of the barbell were metal balls, the weight could not be adjusted, and the competition was decided by the number of times. Later, the Italian Luis Attila hollowed out the metal ball and adjusted the weight by adding iron or lead blocks to it. In 1910, Casper Berg, a native of Nuremberg, changed the metal balls into detachable metal pieces of different weights, which are still in use today.
In 1891, the first World Weightlifting Championships were held in Piccadilly Circus, London.
In 1896, at the first Summer Olympics, weightlifting was listed as an official event, regardless of weight class, and was only divided into one-hand and two-hand clean and jerk. In the end, British athlete Eliot won the one-hand lift championship with a score of 71 kilograms. , Danish athlete F. Jansen won the double-handed championship with a weight of 111.5 kg.
In 1920, at the 7th Summer Olympics, weightlifting began to be divided into five levels based on athlete weight, with three events: snatch, clean and jerk, and press.
In 1924, the weightlifting events were changed to five categories: one-handed grab, clean and jerk, and two-handed push, grab, and clean and jerk.
In 1928, the one-handed lift was eliminated from the weightlifting competition, and the two-handed press, grab, and clean and jerk were retained.
Since the 1940s, women's weightlifting has gradually become popular in Europe and America.
In 1972, the weightlifting competition was canceled after the 20th Summer Olympics.
Starting from the 21st Summer Olympics, the men's weightlifting competition has been increased to 9 levels, that is, adding 2 levels: sub-bantamweight (under 52 kg) and super heavyweight (over 110 kg), and changing the heavyweight level to 110 kg. . During the 21st Summer Olympics, it was increased to level 10, that is, the 100kg level was added.
In 1977, at the 31st World Weightlifting Championships, the names of the weight classes were officially changed to be named after weight, that is, the highest limit of each weight class was used as the name of the class, which were 54 kg, 59 kg, 64 kg, 70 Kilogram, 76kg, 83kg, 91kg, 99kg, 108kg and above 108kg.
In 1984, the United States was commissioned by the International Weightlifting Federation to organize the first women's weightlifting communications competition, with a total of 12 countries participating. In the same year, the International Weightlifting Federation reviewed and approved a new version of the international weightlifting rules at the Los Angeles Alum Congress, officially included women's weightlifting in the competition, and formulated nine weight class standards for women's weightlifting competitions.
From October 31 to November 1, 1987, the first World Women's Weightlifting Championships was held in Daytona Beach, United States, with 99 athletes from 22 countries and regions participating.
In 1998, the International Weightlifting Federation took the initiative to reduce the 10 men's weight classes to eight: 56 kg, 62 kg, 69 kg, 77 kg, 85 kg, 94 kg, 105 kg and over 105 kg. ; Women have been adjusted to 7 levels: 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 75kg, and above 75kg.
On July 5, 2018, the International Weightlifting Federation introduced a new level modification plan for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. There are 7 levels for men: 61 kg, 67 kg, 73 kg, 81 kg, 96 kg, 109 kg Class, 109 kg and above; women also have 7 classes: 49 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 64 kg, 76 kg, 87 kg, and 87 kg and above.
On December 10, 2021, the International Olympic Committee announced the preliminary event list for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and weightlifting has not been included yet.