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Olympic Weightlifting - What is Olympic Weightlifting?

Olympic Weightlifting Basics

By Hugo Rivera, About.com

Men's Category 94kg Medal Ceremony During the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games

Men's Category 94kg Medal Ceremony During the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games

Credit: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE

Only two weightlifters per country are allowed to compete in each weight class.

If the number of entries for a weight class is too big (over 15 entries, for instance) then it can be split into a couple of groups; Groups A and B with Group A being the strongest performers (where performance is based on what they estimate they'll be capable of lifting). Once final results are collected for all groups, then the results are all combined for the weight class and ranked. The highest score wins gold, the one that follows bronze, and the third highest takes bronze.

Read more about Olympic Weightlifting Rules.

Back to the Olympic Weightlifting Main Page.
Nick Laham / Getty Images

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