Weightlifting Records – A Look Into The Past

The first official and written account of a weightlifting event or competition can be found several thousand years ago during the Chou Dynasty, which lasted for more than seven hundred years, from the late 10th century to around 250 B.C. It was during this period of time that military recruits were required to meet and pass certain strength requirements before they were allowed to become a part of the armed forces.

According to some archeologists, the ancient Egyptians once used bags of sand as a method of training and weightlifting. Evidence of competition during the days of ancient Greece can also be found, both in legend and in artifacts. Rocks bearing inscriptions about the individuals who lifted them have been unearthed throughout the ancient Greek world, despite the fact that they weigh several hundred pounds. Although some would question the authenticity of any stories or accounts of feats of strength that took place hundred of years ago, it is clear that weightlifting and strength training did play a significant role in the lives of several groups of ancient people.

The practice of weightlifting and weight training appears to have disappeared after the fall of the Roman Empire, although it is possible that its existence was simply no longer recorded. The ideas behind lifting weights and training with weights and heavy objects was revived in the 16th century, and clearly continues to this day.

The Start Of Something Big

According to at least one source, the idea of weightlifting as a competition officially began in the mid 19th century, when a college professor and proponent of weightlifting by the name of George Barker Windship held a strong man competition in which the winner received a prize of $200 if he or she could lift more weight than Windship, who at the time was considered the “American Sampson”.

Although weightlifting and training with weights already existed at the time, this initial competition is generally considered the birth of competitive weightlifting. Curiously enough, Windship is actually credited as being the inventor of the barbell and weightlifting plates, ideas for which he filed patents for back in 1865.

After building a solid following throughout Europe and the United States, the sport of weightlifting was officially added to the list of Olympic events during the games of 1896. Although weightlifting did not return for the Olympic games of 1900, it did return in 1904, only to disappear for several more games. In 1920, the event returned for good, and has been a part of the Olympic games ever since.

Weightlifting Records

Although a variety of different lifts have comprised the world of competitive weightlifting, today only two lifts are used during weightlifting competitions. The clean and jerk and well as the snatch. During a weightlifting competition, individuals can participate in one of several weight divisions. Weightlifting records are based then on the individual lifter’s weight class. As far as the actual weightlifting records are concerned, there are records for both the clean and jerk and the snatch, as well as for the combined weight of both lifts.

Men’s World Records

* 56 kg – At the 56 kilogram weight class, the world records in the snatch, the clean and jerk, and in the “total” lift which combines both previous lifts, are all held by Halil Mutlu, who has a snatch lift of 138 kg, a clean and jerk lift of 168 kg, and a combined total of 305 kg.
* 62 kg – At the 62 kilogram weight class, the world record in the snatch is held by Zhiyong Shi (153 kg). The world record in the clean and jerk belongs to Maosheng Li, at 182 kg. The lifts by both of these men are combined to establish the current world record for total weight.
* 69 kg – Georgi Markov holds the world record in the snatch (153 kg), Guozheng Zhang is the holder of the world record in the clean and jerk (197 kg), and Galabin Boevski hold the record for total weight lifted.
* 77 kg – The world record in the snatch is held by Sergey Filimonov (173 kg), and the world record in the clean and jerk belongs to Oleg Perepetchenov (210 kg), while the world record for total weight lifted belongs to Plamen Jelyazkov (377 kg).
* 85 kg – Andrei Rybakou holds the world record in the snatch (187 kg), Yong Zhang is the world record holder in the clean and jerk (218 kg). The weight lifte by both men is used to establish the world record standard for total weight (395 kg).
* 94 kg – The snatch record at this weight class (188 kg) belongs to Akakios Kakhiasvilis, while the clean and jerk record (232 kg) belongs to Szymon Kolecki. The world standard for both lifts is 417 kg.
* 105 kg – Marcin Dolega is the world record holder in the snatch (199 kg), while the world standards for both the clean and jerk and the total lift are 242 kg and 440 kg respectively.
* 105+ – In the 105+ weight class, all three records are currently held by Hossein Rezazadeh (213 kg snatch, 263 kg clean and jerk, 472 kg total).