Weightlifting, also commonly known as “Olympic Weightlifting” is a strength sport in which an athlete develops true strength and explosive power in order to perform a single repetition effort in two movements known as the “snatch” and the “clean & jerk”.  The sport of weightlifting is one of the oldest Olympic events, touting its inclusion in the first Olympic Games of 1896. To become a great weightlifter takes a tremendous amount of focus and dedication, largely due to the technical nature of the snatch and clean & jerk. Training as a weightlifter can teach an athlete a number of invaluable lessons about responsibility, work ethic, perseverance, and self -reflection. Learning to perform the snatch and clean & jerk can be difficult yet incredibly rewarding. Weightlifting is a unique sport in the sense that specific types of barbells and plates are used in order to provide the safest, most effective way to perform the lifts. “Bumper plates” are commonly color coded for ease of loading and identification in competition and provide a safe medium to be dropped from an overhead position down onto the platform. Specific needle bearing barbells possess smooth spin, and flexible steel that provide ideal qualities for completion of the competition lifts.