ACOG - Weightlifting - IBM

Who to Watch in Olympic Weightlifting

Bulgaria, China and the Russian Federation continue to be the countries to watch in international competition, along with newcomers Turkey and Greece. The first Olympic Games to lift under the new weightclasses, these Games may give an unexpected contender the edge he needs, since the lifter with the lowest body weight wins in the case of a tie. The weightclasses were changed after some embarassing doping incidents. In the 1988 Games in Seoul, two gold medalists from Bulgaria were stripped of their titles for drug use. Since then, the sport has cracked down hard on drug users and stringent policies now carry the threat of lifetime banishment from the sport.

This isn't the first time weightclasses have shifted. In 1928, there were only five, compared to today's 10. Other changes include the number of lifts — there used to be five — the one-hand snatch, one-hand clean and jerk, the press (discontinued in 1972) and of course, today's snatch and clean and jerk.

It's hard to know if U.S. weightlifting will ever regain the popularity it had when Paul ANDERSON was in his heyday, but now that lifters are fighting clean and weight training has become a given in every sport, watch for Olympic weightlifting to make a comeback.

The 1995 World Championships in China provided the weightlifting world with what should be a prelude to the 1996 Olympic Games. During the Worlds, the men's competition was close as almost half of the classes had to use the bodyweight difference to determine the gold medal winners. This same type of tiebreaking system also may decide the Olympic gold medalists as the high standard and strength become more equal.

China, disappointed with its one bronze medal at the 1994 Worlds, demonstrated its new strength by capturing five gold, five silver and six bronze medals to claim the top team ranking. However, it was the Greeks that prove to be the new up-and-coming weightlifting power as it won the most gold medals at the world championships with six. Russia placed a close second with the same number of medals with five gold, eight silver and one bronze medal.

In contrast, Bulgaria, for the first time since 1971, failed to win any gold medals at the World Championships after winning just three silver and two bronze medals. Bulgaria, under the leadership of gold medalist Ivan IVANOV in the 52 kg, hopes to regain its power by defending its gold medal at the 1996 Games. IVANOV did not compete in the world championships.

Niam Suleymanoglu of Turkey brings with him to Atlanta three world champion titles, becoming 22-time world champion. This feat ties Alexeev's record that no one thought could be matched or beaten. SULEYMANOGLU was only 14 when he set his first world record. In 1988, he was 21 years old and considered the best lifter in the world, pound for pound. His total of 342.5 kg would easily have won the lightweight class in Seoul.

This is an official publication of The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Jennifer Knight.


Olympic Factoid
An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games.