7 Olympic Weightlifting Program Examples By Olympian

Olympic weightlifting programs were designed, often by Olympians themselves, to improve the weightlifter’s proficiency in two movements – Snatch and Clean & Jerk. The program doesn’t focus on just increasing one’s strength, but also refining speed, coordination, and flexibility.

Because of this, other sports’ performance can be improved with these exercises and their modifications. Due to their biomechanical properties of great strength and power output, it is advised that sports requiring high speed force, such as American football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, athletics, and martial arts, adapt features of Olympic weightlifting.

7 Goals of an Olympic Weightlifting Program

1. Basic Fitness

Long-term development and injury prevention depend on establishing a base level of fitness. The Olympic weightlifting program can be made more varied and the athletes’ health can be enhanced by beginning and ending each workout with a few simple plyometric, strength, and corrective aid exercises.

2. Mobility and Flexibility

The aim is to find solutions to any mobility and flexibility issues. In some positions, many athletes may lack basic control and flexibility, but the majority can actually enhance mobility by just following a structured training regimen.

3. Technique

The desire to lift weights well over their technical capacity is common among athletes. Technique development is usually top priority since skill development is essential.

4. Hypertrophy of the Muscle

More muscle tissue must be developed during the course of a weightlifter’s sporting career in order to accumulate the reserve required to grow more powerful and strong. Many athletes will not be able to increase their strength and performance over the long run without effective muscle hypertrophy training.

5. Neural Adaptation

Weightlifting is a neurologically demanding sport in which the athlete must become accustomed to high levels of motor control while moving quickly under large loads. Throughout a weightlifting career, the lifter must improve their neural connections and impulses due to the need for speed, power, and extremely accurate movement.

6. Build a Broad Skill Set

Giving the athlete adequate exercises will help them develop their movement patterns, coordination, and comprehension of the lifts without overwhelming them with too many possibilities. Increasing the number of training days will help with this.

7. Improve Performance

Cardiovascular and muscular endurance are key components of performance. Endurance refers to the capacity to work out with a heavier load and more frequently without sacrificing performance or becoming too fatigued.

You can raise the athletes’ baseline fitness by increasing the training volume, cutting down on rest intervals, and introducing supportive activities. Consequently, they will be able to participate in and advance through more intense training cycles.

Programming for Beginners vs Intermediate and Advanced Lifters

This is a question that is commonly posed. In actuality, if you frequently find yourself needing to clarify a workout, you probably need a starting weightlifting program and are a beginner weightlifter.

No matter how long you’ve been there, it doesn’t matter. If you haven’t gained a lot of muscle mass, aren’t very strong, and can’t technically perform a snatch, clean & jerk , pull, or squat — you are a beginner. However, remember that it is a fair and honest evaluation meant to assist you in selecting the best workout, not an insult.

You can choose your lift level by using the explanation listed below.

1. Beginner

There are several types of beginners.

Newbies have poor workout technique and no concept of what the majority of exercises entail. They lack steadiness even in the most basic drills. Typically, a newbie has never increased their strength or muscle mass and has no idea how to properly train and diet. 

Beginning weightlifters work on technique and practices for at least a few months and have a good understanding of their personal weight limit. However, it does not imply that they will be aware of their actual limit. In any exercise, beginners should not push themselves above their limits.

You can stay in this condition forever. Regardless of how long you have been training, if your efforts are not yielding results, it does not matter.

Experienced beginner weightlifters are confident in their technique since they have taken the time to practice and master it for the fundamental snatch and clean & jerk exercises. However, at this stage, they definitely do not need a 5-day olympic weightlifting program: 3 days per week will be sufficient.

2. Intermediate

In the snatch and clean and jerk, intermediate weightlifters have reached around 85-90% of their maximum strength and technique. They will perform well in local weightlifting tournaments if they train for results. An intermediate weightlifting program can comprise 4-5 sessions per week with enough volume. 

With their programming, intermediate lifters need structure in the form of periodization, unloading, or fatigue management. An intermediate weightlifter is aware of his or her primary areas of weakness and is comfortable creating their own routines and modifying them.

Intermediate weightlifters seek assistance from more experienced athletes and coaches when they need advice or help in program design. Despite the challenges in their way, they manage to achieve their set objectives.

3. Advanced

A very small percentage of athletes progress to the advanced and elite level. Elite athletes have encountered highly challenging obstacles during their athletic and training careers and have learned to overcome them via trial and error.

They have a strong understanding of their physical capabilities, mental stability, and advanced weightlifting program. These weightlifters are close to the elite level in Olympic weightlifting. Most of the time, they are among the best in their nation, and many of them have competed abroad.

4 Key Factors in Weightlifting Routine

Each exercise in a training program has a matching load. Sports science as a whole investigates how patterns of fitness change based on the sport, the athlete’s gender, and their level (juniors, seniors, masters).

A training program is created by the coach or athlete based on the objectives, timeframe, and individual and team qualities. The workout frequency, exercises order, volume, and intensity of training work are significant load metrics.

1. Frequency

Frequency is the number of workouts per week. While top athletes often do 8-10 workouts a week (often several sessions a day), most beginners do not need such extreme loads.

The program with 3-5 workouts per week allows to develop technique, gain strength and muscle mass, and adequately recover. On active recovery days or rest days, you can split up enough sleep, stretching, and nutrition.

2. Intensity

An indicator of the quality is the level of intensity. The average weight used in the attempt, in training, relative intensity, as well as the distribution of lifts by intensity zones are indicators of intensity in weightlifting.

The average weight is calculated by dividing the total volume by the number of repetitions. For instance, if the total volume is 580 kg and there are 7 repetitions, the average weight is 83 kg.

83 kg x 7 repetitions = 580 kg

By dividing the average weight by the exercise’s best performance and then multiplying the result by 100, one can calculate relative intensity.

Example: The best performance in the exercise was 120 kg, and the relative intensity was 69%. The average weight in the exercise was 83 kg.

83 kg / 120 kg x 100 = 69%

In modern weightlifting, intensity zones allow for an objective and visible evaluation of the level of expended effort. The six intensity zones that are most frequently employed are 50-60%, 61-70%, 71-80%, 81-90%, 91-100%, and over 100%.

All lifts in exercise groups are distributed by zones when calculating the load for a workout, a week, or a month, making it easy to assess and analyze the athlete’s work objectively.

3. Volume

The volume is the quantity of work an athlete completes in a specific time frame (one set, training session, week, month, etc.). Volume can be calculated in weightlifting using the number of training days, sessions, kilograms, and hours.

The number of repetitions and kilograms is the most accurate and widely used format for calculating volume today.

It is required to total up all repetitions with working weights in order to calculate volume indicators, such as the number of lifts in the exercise. Most athletes base their working repetitions at 50%, while some elite athletes base their load at 70%.

The total volume (number of kilos) of the working weight needs to be multiplied by the quantity of repetitions and sets.

Example: If an athlete performed an exercise in which they lifted 40 kg 3/4, 55 kg 2/3, and 65 kg 2/2, the quantity of labor in kilograms, or the weight lifted, will be calculated as follows: 40x3x4 + 55x2x3 + 65x2x2 = 1070 kg.

The number of repetitions in a distinct exercise is divided by the total number of repetitions and multiplied by 100 to determine the exercise’s percentage of the total amount of labor.

For instance, if an exercise required 80 repetitions and the overall number of repetitions was 290, the exercise’s share would be 27.6%.

4. Exercise Order

Athletes engage in explosive, speed, and competitive exercises during training to use their muscles as effectively as possible.

You can plan in session auxiliary and strength drills. As peak power production is crucial, it will aid in ensuring optimal form, technique, and neurological function.

However, in some stages of competition preparation, more experienced weightlifters may practice squats and other heavy exercises before the Olympic exercises, which aid the nerves in improving the stimulation of individual motor units.

7 Olympic Lifting Programs

1. 3-Day Olympic Lifting Program

In most cases, it is a concise Olympic weightlifting program for athletes with limited time, focusing on key lifts (snatches, clean & jerks, pulls, squats) and accessory work to maximize efficiency and progress.

Additionally, this type of programming works perfectly for people who use Oly lifting as an additional load to their main activity (MMA, functional fitness, or specific sport).

Let’s take a look on one week example for a 3-day training program:

Day 1:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• SUPERMAN – 15 reps
• ABS – 20 reps
• Muscle SNATCH – 3 sets / 6 reps, light weight
• Power SNATCH – up to 70 %, 4 sets / 3 reps
• Snatch DEADLIFT – up to 85 %, 3 sets / 5 reps
• Back SQUAT – up to 80 % 4 sets / 4 reps
• Some light accessory and core exercises

Day 2:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• HYPEREXTENSION – 10 reps
• Gakk SQUAT – 8 reps
• THRUSTER – 3 sets / 6 reps, light weight
• Power CLEAN – up to 70 %, 3 sets / 3 reps 
• Good Morning – 3 sets / 8 reps, medium weight
• Lat PULL – 3 sets / 12 reps, medium weight
• Some light accessory and core exercises

Day 3:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• SUPERMAN – 15 reps
• ABS – 20 reps
• Muscle Squat SNATCH & Overhead SQUAT – 3 sets / 4+4 reps, light weight
• Deficit DEADLIFT & SHRUGS – 3 sets / 6+6 reps, medium weight
• Front SQUAT – up to 90 %, 4 sets / 4 reps
• Bench PRESS – 4 sets / 8 reps, medium weight

A good example of this program can be our BEGINNER PROGRAM.

2. 4-Day Olympic Lifting Program

It is an optimal comprehensive program that allows for more load and recovery. This program is ideal for intermediate competitive and recreational lifters looking to improve their strength and technique.

Here is an example template for a 4-day training program:

Day 1:

• Specific warm up – 3 rounds
• Hyperextension – 10 reps
• ABS – 15 reps
• Gakk squat – 10 reps
• SNATCH & Overhead SQUAT – up to 60 %, 4 sets / 3+3 reps 
• Back SQUAT – up to 60 %, 4 sets / 8 reps
• Deficit Romanian DEADLIFT – 3 sets / 12 reps, medium weight
• Box JUMP – 4 sets / 8 reps

Day 2:

• Specific warm up – 3 rounds
• Hyperextension – 10 reps
• Gakk squat – 10 reps
• CLEAN + Front SQUAT + JERK  – up to 70 %, 4 sets / 2+2+2 reps
• Front SQUAT – up to 70 %, 4 sets / 4 reps
• Split SQUAT – 3 sets / 8+8 reps, medium weight
• Depth JUMP – 4 sets / 6 reps

Day 3:

• Specific warm up – 3 rounds
• Hyperextension – 10 reps
• ABS – 15 reps
• Gakk squat – 10 reps
• SNATCH – up to 60 %, 5 sets / 2 reps
• Snatch PULL – up to 85 %, 4 sets / 4 reps
• Back SQUAT feet narrow – up to 60 %, 4 sets / 8 reps
• Barbell Squat JUMP – 5 reps / 6 sets

Day 4:

• Specific warm up – 3 rounds
• Reverse Hyperextension – 10 reps
• ABS – 15 reps
• Box JUMP – 10 reps
• CLEAN & JERK – up to 60 %, 5 sets / 2+2 reps
• GOOD MORNING – 3 sets / 8 reps, medium weight

Relevant example of a 4-day cycle is our specialized LEG STRENGTH training program.

3. 5-Day Olympic Lifting Program

It is an advanced (semi-pro/pro level) 12-week program with higher volume and intensity, designed for experienced and well trained lifters aiming for maximal strength and performance improvements.

A 5-day week sample can be built as follows:

Day 1:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• HYPEREXTENSION – 12 reps
• PVC Overhead Duck Walk – 10 steps
• PVC Muscle SNATCH + Sn BALANCE – 3 sets × 6+6 reps
• Hang SNATCH above knee + below – up to 70 %, 4 sets / 2+1 reps
• Snatch Hang PULL above knee – up to 80 %, 3 sets / 4 reps
• Back SQUAT – up to 60 %, 4 sets / 6 reps
• Snatch PRESS – 3 sets×8 reps, light weight

Day 2:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds   
• SUPERMAN – 12 reps
• ABS – 15 reps
• Muscle SNATCH+OHS – 3 sets / 4+2 reps, light weight
• PUSH PRESS – up to 50 %, 4 sets / 4 reps
• Good Morning + SQUAT – 3 sets / 8 reps, light weight
• Squat JUMP – 3 sets / 5 reps

Day 3:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• HYPEREXTENSION – 12 reps
• BW Split Squat – 5+5
• CLEAN from blocks below knee – up to 70 %, 3 sets / 2 reps
• Clean PULL from blocks – up to 90 %, 3 sets / 3 reps
• Front SQUAT + JERK – up to 70 %, 3 sets / 1+2 reps
• Glute BRIDGE – 2 sets / 20 reps
• CALF RAISE – 2 sets / 20 reps      

Day 4:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds  
• HYPEREXTENSION – 12 reps
• BOX JUMP – 6 reps
• PVC SNATCH (onto the plates) – 3 sets / 6 reps
• Power SNATCH + Overhead SQUAT – up to 70 %, 3 sets / 1+1 reps
• Medium grip PULL – up to 80 %, 4 sets / 4 reps
• Back SQUAT feet narrow – up to 60 %, 4 sets / 4 reps
• Snatch PUSH PRESS – up to 60 %, 3 sets / 3 reps
• Wrists Flexion – 2 sets / 20 reps, light weight

Day 5:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds  
• SUPERMAN – 12 reps
• ABS – 15 reps
• Elbows rotation – 8 reps
• Power CLEAN + Power CLEAN below knee – up to 70 %, 5 sets / 1+1 reps
• Deficit Clean PULL – up to 80 %, 3 sets / 4 reps 
• Military PLANK – 3 sets / 30 sec
• Barbell Squat JUMP – 3 sets / 6 reps    

Find full 12 week training template in MALE 2.0 competition program:

4. Masters Olympic Lifting Program

This competition program is usually tailored for athletes 35+, focusing on power, mobility, strength, and technique while considering age-related limitations and recovery needs.

A weightlifting regimen for Master athletes is a carefully selected mix of exercises that are both effective and have a lower risk of injury. The program alternates between different types of loads and includes strength exercises with a limited range of motion to ensure the training stress is optimal.

Training week template:

Day 1:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• HYPEREXTENSION – 12 reps
• ABS – 15 reps
• Duck Walk – 10 steps
• Muscle SNATCH – 3 sets / 6 reps, light weight
• Power SNATCH – up to 70 %, 3 sets / 2 reps
• Snatch DEADLIFT – up to 90 %, 3 sets / 3 reps

Day 2:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• SUPERMAN – 15 reps
• Gakk SQUAT – 6 reps
• Wall SQUAT – 6 reps
• Front SQUAT+JERK – up to 70 %, 3 sets / 1+2 reps
• Push PRESS – up to 50 %, 3 sets / 4 reps
• Split SQUAT – 3 sets / 6+6 reps, light weight

Day 3:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• HYPEREXTENSION – 12 reps
• ABS – 15 reps
• Front SQUAT with straps – 6 reps
• Clean PULL (till power position) + CLEAN – up to 60 %, 3 sets / 2+2 reps
• Hang CLEAN (below the knee) – up to 70 %, 3 sets / 2 reps
• Clean PULL from blocks – up to 90 %, 3 sets / 4 reps

Day 4:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• SUPERMAN – 15 reps
• Duck Walk – 10 steps
• SNATCH – up to 50 %, 4 sets / 4 reps
• Good Morning – 3 sets / 6 reps, light weight

Find full competition preparation for athletes 35+ in Master Diesel training

5. Intenso Cycle Olympic Lifting Program

This is an 8-week competition program based on fast and intensive preparation with many heavy snatch and clean & jerk singles as well as waves lifting. The main goal is to push athletes to their limits.

Check the basic training week template:

Day 1:

• Specific warm up – 3 rounds
• Bird Dog – 10+10 reps
• Split squat – 6+6 reps
• Elbows rotation – 10 reps
• Thruster – 3 sets / 6 reps, light weight
• CLEAN & JERK – 3 waves up to 85 % 1+1
• Clean PULL slowly down – up to 100 %, 4 sets / 2 reps
• Military PRESS – 4 sets / 8 reps  
• Wrists Flexion – 4 sets / 15 reps  

Day 2:

• Specific warm up – 3 rounds
• SUPERMAN – 15 reps
• Iron butterfly – 20 reps
• Good Morning – 3 sets / 8 reps, medium weight
• Snatch PUSH PRESS + Snatch BALANCE – up to 60 %, 3 sets / 2+2 reps
• Pause SNATCH (knee level) – up to 80 %, 3 sets / 2 reps
• Pause Back SQUAT – up to 70 %, 4 sets / 3 reps

Day 3:

• Specific warm up – 3 rounds
• HYPEREXTENSION – 15 reps
• ABS – 20 reps
• Clean PULL + Muscle Squat CLEAN – 3 sets / 3+3 reps, light weight
• CLEAN & JERK – up to 50 %, 6 sets / 2+2 reps
• Romanian DEADLIFT – 3 sets / 8 reps, medium weight
• Wall sit – 4 sets / 30 sec  
• BOX JUMP – 4 sets / 8 reps  

Day 4:

• Specific warm up – 3 rounds
• Bird Dog – 10+10 reps
• ABS – 20 reps
• Good Morning – 3 sets / 8 reps, medium weight
• SNATCH – 3 waves up to 85 % 1+1 
• Snatch PULL – up to 90 % 4 sets / 2 reps 
• Snatch Sots PRESS – 4 sets / 8 reps, medium weight

Day 5:

• Specific warm up – 3 rounds
• SUPERMAN Swim – 15 reps
• Gakk SQUAT – 12 reps
• Elbows stretching – 6 reps
• Good Morning – 3 sets / 8 reps, medium weight
• Power CLEAN – up to 70 % 3 sets / 2 reps 
• Back SQUAT+ Front SQUAT – up to 90 % 3 sets / 2+2 reps 
• Jerk SUPPORT – up to 105 % 3 sets / 1 reps 
• BOX JUMP – 3 sets / 6 reps  

Find more details about INTENSO CYCLE

6. Olympic Lifting Program for Women

A competitive 12-week Olympic weightlifting program specifically designed for women takes into consideration physiological differences to optimize strength gains and technique.

Let’s take a deeper look at a 5-day week example:

Day 1:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• HYPEREXTENSION – 12 reps
• PVC Overhead Duck Walk – 10 steps
• PVC Muscle SNATCH + Sn BALANCE – 3 sets / 6+6 reps
• Hang SNATCH above knee + below knee – up to 65-70 % 6 sets / 2+1 reps
• Snatch PULL+ Snatch PULL below knees – up to 80 % 5 sets / 1+3 reps
• Back SQUAT – up to 60 % 4 sets / 5 reps
• Snatch Sots PRESS – 4 sets / 12 reps, light weight

Day 2:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• SUPERMAN – 12 reps
• ABS – 15 reps
• Clean PULL + Muscle Squat CLEAN – 3 sets × 3+3 reps, light weight
• CLEAN from blocks + Front SQUAT – up to 70 % 3 sets / 2+1 reps
• Clean PULL from blocks – up to 90 % 3 sets / 3 reps
• Biceps CURLS reverse grip – 2 sets / 12 reps 
• Wrists Flexion – 2 sets / 20 reps       

Day 3:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• HYPEREXTENSION – 12 reps
• BW Split Squat – 5+5
• Muscle SNATCH + Overhead SQUAT – 3 sets / 3+3 reps, light weight
• Front SQUAT+JERK – up to 70 % 3 sets / 1+2 reps
• Push PRESS – up to 50 % 4 sets /3 reps

Day 4:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• HYPEREXTENSION – 12 reps
• BOX JUMP – 6 reps
• Power CLEAN + Hang Power CLEAN – up to 70 % 5 sets / 1+1 reps
• Deficit Clean PULL – up to 90 % 3 sets / 3 reps
• Front SQUAT – up to 85 % 4 sets / 3 reps
• Military PRESS – 4 sets / 8 reps 
• Military PLANK – 3 sets / 30 sec

Day 5:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• SUPERMAN – 12 reps
• ABS – 15 reps
• PVC SNATCH onto the plates – 3 sets / 6 reps
• Power SNATCH + Overhead SQUAT – up to 70 % 4 sets / 1+1 reps
• Medium grip PULL – up to 80 % 4 sets / 4 reps
• Back SQUAT – up to 60 % 4 sets / 4 reps
• Glute BRIDGE – 2 sets / 20 reps
• CALF RAISE – 2 sets / 20 reps              

Find more details about Women Olympic weightlifting competition preparation here:

7. Weightlifting for Functional Fitness

This is a 10-week competition weightlifting cycle meticulously crafted for athletes aiming to blend weightlifting and functional fitness training. The primary objective is to achieve new personal records in the snatches and clean & jerks. This program can be self-contained or seamlessly integrated into existing functional training schedules.

The example of a week cycle routine:

Day 1:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• HYPEREXTENSION – 15 reps
• Gakk SQUAT – 12 reps
• Clean PULL + CLEAN – 3-4×2+2  70-75% of max C&J
• Front SQUAT – 3×5 @ 85-90% of max C&J
• Barbell Squat JUMP – 3×8 

Day 2:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• SUPERMAN – 15 reps
• Gakk SQUAT – 12 reps
• Push PRESS – 3-4×6 MEDIUM
• Back SQUAT – 3-4×4 @ 60% of max Back SQUAT
• Military PRESS – 3 sets×8 MEDIUM

Day 3:

• Specific warm up – 2 rounds
• HYPEREXTENSION – 15 reps
• Duck Walk – 10 reps
• Power SNATCH + Snatch BALANCE – 3-5×2+2 @ 60-70% of max Snatch
• Snatch PULL – 3-4×4 @ 85-90% of max Snatch
• Snatch Sots PRESS – 3×10 MEDIUM

Full weightlifting training program for functional fitness athletes you will find here:

7 Common Weightlifting Programming Mistakes

Achieving results in weightlifting takes time, dedication, consistency, and tons of effort. However, if you do not know how to plan an effective workout, you can make mistakes that will cause injury or slow down your overall progress. Let’s take a look at some of the most common weightlifting mistakes made by beginners and experienced weightlifters alike.

❌ The Pursuit Of Results

Everyone who dreams of lifting big pounds tries to do it faster. For every person, these “big kilograms” are different, but you need to remember and understand that everyone has their own genetics.

Besides, there are numerous other factors that will help or prevent us from lifting that same heavy barbell. You must keep in mind that there cannot be “large kilograms” at once by definition – power and technique require patience to form. 

My coach used the term “beginner” for athletes who have been involved in weightlifting up to two years, just enough to master the technique of movement and prepare the body for real weightlifting, which will bring pleasure and results and not injury or disappointment. 

However, in various gyms one can often see attempts to cheat time and move up the barbell contrary to the laws of physiology and training methodology in the absence of a technical and power base.

❌ No Warm Up

Do you warm up before your workout? If not, you are making a big mistake. Many people do not realize that not warming up before weightlifting can lead to serious injury. However, it is well known that warm-up exercises allow you to fully engage in work.

These exercises do not have to be intense or difficult but just enough to get your blood pumping and muscle memory kicking in. It is seemingly a simple and understandable rule for absolutely everyone to warm up before training, which is exactly what coaches teach beginners. 

At the same time, many athletes do not know that before picking up the barbell, it is necessary to conduct a general warm-up for around 10-12 minutes. The warm-up routine is of great importance for preparing the body for the upcoming main work, which is associated with heavy loads on the musculoskeletal system.

It must be remembered that in the process of warming up in the joints, mobility increases, coordination of fibers is established, and metabolism is accelerated.

An increase in body temperature is important as it promotes turning on all body blood systems. In addition, it decreases the tightness of the muscles and increases their elasticity, which protects against injuries.

Notably, the body is ready not immediately after the warm-up but only in 5-8 minutes after its completion. Only after that period of time you should take the barbell and begin to prepare for the exercises according to the training program.

However, many weightlifters do not know that even in a warm-up with an empty bar, it is necessary to break the exercise into small lead-in parts, work this way for several approaches, and only then proceed with the exercise as a whole. The weight of the increase on the bar can vary between 5-20 kg, depending on the level of skill.

❌ Failure to Set Goals

One of the biggest setbacks for weightlifters is the inability to set adequate goals. Just like achieving goals in any other area of ​​your life, setting weightlifting goals will give you a more efficient path to follow.

Do not be afraid to set multiple goals at once! However, goal setting alone is not enough: you need to track and trace your progress to see how far you have come. This will give you more motivation to follow the right path.

❌ An Attempt to Copy the Technique of Top Athletes

You can often hear from novice athletes “I saw on the video how that world champion performed the exercise in this way.”

Well, firstly, a guy that has been training for 10 weeks cannot compare himself with a weightlifter who has been in business over 10 years: the technique of a beginner and the technique of a professional have completely different levels. 

Secondly, the world’s TOP athletes are often unique people who have their own unique body structure and movement techniques that an ordinary person does not have. Of course, it is possible and necessary to follow and learn from unique athletes, but you cannot blindly copy the technique.

Imitation of anyone does not give development to an athlete: for the growth of sportsmanship, it is necessary to hear your body and understand the patterns and rules for performing movements: first simple and then complex. However, for this you need to study and work on yourself!

❌ Failure to Communicate

It is important to engage with the weightlifting community, both in person and online! While you can probably embark on this journey alone without seeking advice or a partner, you most certainly will not be able to reach your full potential along the way.

Knowing that you have a community to turn to for advice is great in many ways. You can get new workout ideas and find someone to help hold you accountable, which is priceless. It is also much safer to have someone around when you are working out, especially if you are new.

❌ Not Listening to Your Body

All exercises involve overcoming a certain amount of discomfort. That being said, it is important to listen to your body when it comes to pain during and after lifting weights.

Do not ignore the signals from your body! If you find yourself in a lot more pain than you are used to or it takes a long time to recover from a certain exercise, you should think about it. Are you doing the exercise correctly? Are you too busy?

Maybe it is time to scale it down a bit. Many young weightlifters hope that if they will constantly push themselves to the edge of their capabilities, they will achieve high results. 

In practice, such athletes usually get overtraining syndrome, and then they can get injured, which, unfortunately, is sometimes incompatible with continued training. It must be remembered that it is impossible to be strong and always be in peak shape – this is a temporary condition.

Professional athletes get in shape for about three months, sometimes more, and prepare themselves for the peak of shape. After the competition, however, they deliberately “lower” this shape in order to recover.

The growth of the result does not occur in a vertical direction only but in waves. For this, training programs are built, in which all these parameters are set.

❌ Failure to Strike a Balance

Are you focused on one aspect of your workout, like strength? That is good, but you need to make sure you are making progress everywhere. Your goal is a balanced workout. Have you ever heard of the workout pattern? This is a pre-planned load that is well balanced.

For example, it can be a weightlifting program pdf. It is an extremely useful tool for those who are not sure what to do next. With the plan in front of you, it is much easier to do a balanced workout, especially for beginners.

Whether you are reaching a plateau in your goals or just looking to improve your training process, eliminating these common weightlifting mistakes is a great idea. When you recognize the easiest mistakes, you will be better equipped to take the right steps towards achieving your unique fitness goals, whatever they may be.

Main Olympic Weightlifting Lifts

1. Snatches

The snatch, a full-body exercise with the goal of lifting a weight from a seated position to an overhead position in a single motion, can be described as an explosive athletic activity. The snatch exercise that involves an Olympic barbell is a part of the Olympic program.

There are many variations of Olympic Snatch that are mostly used during training, including power snatch, hang snatch, block snatch, and deficit snatch, as well as snatch complexes, such as snatch with overhead squat or power snatch with snatch balance.

Briefly, the snatch execution can be broken into the following phases:

Starting position: the lifter takes a position over the bar with a wide grip, feet shoulder-width apart, and arched back.

Pull phase: in the first pull, the lifter moves the weight from the ground to the knees, keeping the chest up and back flat. In the second pull, also called power position, the athlete explosively extends the hips and knees, directing the elbows up to provide a vertical bat path.

Turnover: the lifter drops under the bar, catching it overhead on the straight arms into a squat position.

Recovery: the lifter stands up from a squat position, keeping the bar overhead until the lift is completed.

2. Cleans

The clean is the first part of the clean and jerk, an Olympic weightlifting exercise, where the athlete raises the barbell to his or her shoulders from the platform.

Weightlifters can use it as a training exercise to develop their technique, strength, speed, and all the other attributes required for the lift in order to prepare for competition. Other athletes can utilize it to improve their power, speed, accuracy, and mobility.

There are many variations of Olympic clean, which are mostly used during training: muscle clean, power clean, hang clean, block clean, and deficit clean as well as clean complexes, such as clean with front squat or power clean with hang squat clean.

Briefly, the clean execution can be broken into the following phases:

Starting position: the lifter takes a position over the bar with a clean grip, feet shoulder-width apart, and arched back.

Pull phase: in the first pull, the lifter moves the weight from the ground to the knees, keeping the chest up and back flat. In the second pull, also called power position, the athlete explosively extends the hips and knees, rotating the elbows up to provide a solid clean catch position.

Turnover: the lifter drops under the bar, catching it into a front rack squat position.

Recovery: the lifter stands up from a squat position, keeping the bar on shoulders until the lift is completed or starts to prepare for the jerk.

3. Jerks

The jerk is the second part of the clean and jerk, where the athlete cleans the barbell from the floor to the shoulders before raising it overhead. Weightlifters can use it as a training exercise to develop their technique, strength, speed, and all the other attributes required for the lift in order to prepare for competition.

As with the cleans, other athletes can utilize the jerks to improve their power, speed, accuracy, mobility, and overhead strength. There can be many types of an Olympic jerk, which are mostly used during training: push jerk, push press, paused jerk, jerk behind the neck and jerk complexes, such as front squat + jerk, push press + jerk.

Incorporating these variations into the training process can help lifters develop the specific parts required to execute the lift successfully and prepare for the competition.

Jerks can be broken down into three main phases: dip, drive, and catch.

Before a lifter initiates a dip, it is important to set or take the correct initial positions.

Starting position (also known as front rack position): the initial position for the jerk begins with the athlete standing upright, feet hip-width apart or a bit wider, with the bar resting on the shoulders. The grip is at least a bit wider than shoulders, elbows pointing forward and slightly out, big chest up and core tight.

Dip: during this phase, the athlete slightly bends the knees (it is ok to push knees a bit out in the same plane with toes), keeping the torso upright. The depth is usually around ⅓ of a full squat. The goal of this movement is to engage leg muscles.

Drive: the athlete explosively extends the hips and knees, sending the heavy bar upward. It is important to maintain vertical direction to create the correct bar path.

Catch: the athlete quickly splits legs forward and backward or bends the knees to drop under the bar, catching the weight in a fully extended overhead position before recovering to a full straight standing position.

4. Squats

The barbell squat is a fundamental exercise for Olympic weightlifters of all levels that is essential for developing lower body strength, stability, and mobility.

When performing a barbell squat, the athlete lowers their hips from a standing posture before standing back up. The hip and knee joints flex while the ankle joint dorsiflexes during the descent, and when standing up, the hip and knee joints extend while the ankle joint plantarflexes.

Many variations and styles of barbell squats exist in Olympic weightlifting training programs, such as back squats, front squats, paused squats, split squats. It also can be a variation of squats with a different feet stance: narrow, wide, and middle.

These styles and variations of squats are incorporated into training programs with different goals because they target different muscle groups and aspects of the squat movement. 

For example, the front squats emphasize the quads and upper back, while back squats focus more on the lower back. Paused squats, where the athlete holds the bottom position for a brief period (3-10 sec), can help improve stability and strength in the bottom position of the squat. Split squats help to address any imbalances between the legs.

Adjusting the feet stance, whether narrow, wide, or middle, can also target different muscle groups and help improve mobility in the hips, knees, and ankles. Incorporating various squat variations and stances into training programs can help athletes develop well-rounded strength, power, and mobility required of Olympic weightlifting and other sports.

5. Pulls

In the pulls, weightlifters lower themselves to the floor and lift a heavy barbell off the ground by hinging hips backward. All throughout the movement, back must be flat. The upper and lower back, glutes, and hamstrings can all be strengthened and given more definition with deadlift exercises. 

There are many pull variations in Olympic weightlifting training programs, such as snatch grip pull, clean grip pull, and middle grip pull. It also can be a variation of pull with a different initial position: hang pull, block pull, deficit pull, paused pull, eccentric pull, and high pull; as well as pull complexes: snatch pull + snatch, clean pull + clean.

These variations target different muscle groups and aspects of the pull movement. For example, the snatch pull with wider grip emphasizes the upper back, lats, and traps, while the clean grip pull with a narrower grip focuses more on lower back and hips.

Incorporating pull variations and complexes into training programs can help lifters develop well-rounded strength, power, and technique for Olympic athletes and other sports.

11 Important Accessory Exercises for Olympic Lifting

Accessory exercises are fundamental for enhancing strength, stability, and mobility in specific regions that are vital for Olympic weightlifting.

These exercises help to address weaknesses in the body that may not be directly targeted to the main Olympic lifts but crucial for overall clinical performance and injury prevention. Here are essential accessory exercises for Olympic weightlifting:

1. Romanian Deadlift

This drill targets the hamstrings glutes and lower back, thereby improving the hip hinge movement and strengthening the posterior chain. This exercise is crucial for enhancing the initial pull of both the snatch and clean and jerk and for improving overall stability and control during the lifts. 

To execute it, stand with feet hip-width apart, holding a barbell in front of your thighs with a slight bend in your knees, then hinge at your hips to lower the bar way down in the front of your legs and keeping your back flap and chest up before driving your hips forward to return to the starting position.

2. Overhead Squats 

This exercise helps develop stability and mobility in the overhead position, which is crucial for the snatch. It also engages the core shoulders and hips, promoting overall balance and coordination. Overhead squats are essential for improving the receiving position of the snatch and enhance an overall flexibility and range of motion.

Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and a bar pressed overhead with arms fully extended in the snatch grip and then perform a regular squat by pushing your hips back and bending your knees to lower your body towards the ground while keeping the weight stable overhead when pushed back up to the starting position.

3. Bent Over Rows 

This exercise targets the upper back lats and rhomboids, helping to maintain a strong back position during the lifts. It also helps in developing grip strength and shoulder stability. Bent over rows are crucial for enhancing the pool in the snatch and clean and jerk and help in preventing injury by promoting overall back health.

To execute it, stand with your feet hip-width apart and slightly bend your knees. Hinge at the hips to lead your torso forward while keeping your back flat. Hold the barbell with both hands using an overhand grip, then pull the barbell towards your abdomen while squeezing your shoulder blades together and then lower back to the starting position.

4. Bulgarian Split Squats 

This exercise is crucial for improving single leg strength stability and hip mobility. It targets the quads, hamstrings, and glutes and helps in correcting muscle imbalances between the legs, which is essential for maintaining proper alignment during the lifts.

To execute it, stand a few feet away from a bench or elevated surface with barbel resting on your upper back, then place one foot behind you on the bench and lower your body by bending your front knee until your thigh is parallel to the ground, then push back up to the starting position for prescribed number of reps.

Repeat the exercise for the other leg.

5. Good Mornings 

This exercise targets the lower back hamstring and glutes, improving the hip hinge movement and strengthening the posterior chain. Additionally, it helps in developing spinal erectors’ strength, which is essential for maintaining a neutral spine during the lifts. 

Good mornings are crucial for enhancing the initial pool phase of snatch and clean. They also help in preventing injuries by promoting overall back and hip health. To execute it, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and the bar resting on your upper back.

Then, hinge at your hips to lean your torso forward while keeping your back flab and knees slightly bent. Lower your torso until it is almost parallel to the ground, then reverse the motion by driving your hips forward to return to starting position.

6. Push Press 

This exercise helps to develop shoulder and overhead strength as well as leg drive, which is essential for the jerk. It targets the shoulders, triceps, and legs and helps in improving the overhead position and the driving phase of jerk.

To execute push press, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and the barbel resting in the front rack position. Initiate the movement by slightly bending your knees and explosively extending your legs while simultaneously pressing the barbell overhead until your arms are fully extended, and then lower the barbell back onto your shoulders.

7. Hanging Leg Raises 

This exercise strengthens the core and hip flexors, which are crucial for maintaining a strong core during the lifts, and helps in developing overall hip mobility.

To execute it, hang from a pull up bar with your hands shoulder-width apart and your legs fully extended. Keeping your legs straight or slightly bent, lift them up towards your chest, engaging your abdominal muscles, then lower them back down to the starting position in a controlled manner.

8. Box Jump

Box jumps are plyometric exercises that target the leg muscles, particularly the quads, hamstrings, and glutes, and engage the core. To execute a box jump, start by standing in front of the box or platform with your feet hip-width apart.

Begin the movement by doing a half squat, then explosively jump onto the box. Land softly with your knees slightly bent, stand up straight, then step back or jump down and repeat.

9. Plank Variations

The plank is a core stabilization exercise that targets the abdominal muscles, lower back, shoulders, glutes, thighs, and arms. To execute a plank, start by lying face down on the floor and then place your body up onto your forearms and toes, keeping it in a straight line from head to heels.

Engage core and glutes to prevent your hips from sagging or lifting too high, holding this position for a designated amount of time, keeping your breath steady and your body as still as possible.

10. Farmer’s Walk 

The farmer’s walk is a functional strength exercise that targets the entire body with a focus on the grip, forearms, shoulders, core, and lower back. It is beneficial for Olympic weightlifters as it improves grip strength, shoulder stability, and core strength.

To execute a farmer’s walk, start by standing upright, holding heavy dumbbells or kettlebell in each hand with a neutral grip. Engage your core, stand tall, and start walking at a steady pace. Keep your chest up and shoulders tight, walk for the set distance or time, then carefully put the weight down and rest.

11. Wrist Curl

The wrist curl is an isolation exercise that specifically targets the forearm muscles. It is especially beneficial for Olympic weightlifters, because a strong grip and forearm strength are crucial for lifts like snatch and clean and jerk.

To execute wrist curls, sit on a bench with your forearms resting on your thighs and holding the bar with an underhand grip (palms facing up). Allow the bar to roll down your fingers and then curl your arms up towards your body, squeezing your forearms at the top of the movement.

Lower the weight back down and repeat for the desired number of reps.

10 Benefits of Olympic Weightlifting

✅ Physical Fitness

Snatches and clean and jerks are fun and challenging whole-body exercises that utilize every muscle in an athlete’s body and allow them to burn a lot of calories. Olympic exercises are a terrific approach to maximize the benefits of strength training, develop muscle, and reduce body fat.

✅ Become More Powerful, Stronger, and Faster Runner

Some of the largest power outputs in the entire sport are produced during snatches or clean and jerks. People can run faster and jump higher thanks to power gained from enhanced strength and speed. The best method to increase strength and speed in your workouts is to include Olympic movements.

✅ Enhanced Efficiency

Olympic weightlifting workouts are adaptable; depending on how you incorporate them into your routines, they can result in a number of beneficial changes in your body.

Olympic exercises can be used to build power, speed, and endurance during high-intensity exercise, recover more quickly, and finish more workouts. Consequently, you will improve your ability to exert more effort during each workout and achieve your goals more quickly.

✅ Injury Prevention

Olympic lifts are total-body exercises that strengthen and enhance the flexibility of the joints in the shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles. The secret to getting the body ready for the high demands of sports and other daily activities is to learn how to control the tension in all these joints while moving.

✅ Increase Bone Density

Strengthening bones is essential for preventing osteoporosis and safeguarding against bone fractures, especially for women. The optimal stress that Olympic exercises place on the arms, legs, and spine is just what the body needs to be stimulated into creating new bone tissue and increasing bone density.

✅ Enhance Your Coordination

Full-body motions used in Olympic workouts call for exact timing, rhythm, and coordination. Enhancing body awareness and coordination is beneficial for both daily living and athletic performance.

✅ Boost Physical Prowess

Olympic lifts demand the athlete to exert force on the ground by a quick and synchronized “triple extension” of the ankle, knee, and hip, simulating the fundamental movements of most sports: sprinting and jumping.

Exercises including weightlifting have the second-largest direct impact on enhancing athletic performance in sports where strength, power, and speed are crucial.

✅ Develop Your Confidence

Physical improvement affects all aspects of your life. Your confidence in and out of the gym will increase as you pick up new skills and realize what your body is capable of. You will see more benefits if you workout consistently and use strength training as a tool.

✅ Increase Motion Range

While some individuals believe that stiffness and bulkiness come with Olympic lifting, that is not true. In fact, some of the most adaptable and quick athletes competing in the Olympics are weightlifters.

✅ Improve Dynamic Balance

People rarely require strength while standing still in life or in sports, so it is critical to challenge the body in the gym to reflect this.

The Olympic weightlifting routine gives the body the strength and stability it needs to move quickly throughout the major joints, enabling stability in both daily activities and athletic competition. Exercises like weightlifting are genuinely functional.

FAQ

Should I Focus on Intensity or Volume?

It depends on your specific goal. For muscle growth, higher volume is crucial. For increasing maximal strength and power, high intensity lifts are beneficial. However, remember that an effective training program must include both, changing the focus between volume and intensity over different periods of training.

What Is the Difference Between Volume and Intensity for Growth?

Volume or intensity for muscle growth? They both contribute to muscle growth, but in different ways.

Volume is a total measure of sets and reps and is generally associated with muscle growth as it increases time under tension and stimulates muscle fibers to grow. Intensity, defined as quality of training work and usually calculates in % from 1 RM, is key for strength gains.

However, training at high intensity can also stimulate muscle hypertrophy, especially for more experienced athletes.

Conclusion

An effective weightlifting program should incorporate a variety of volume and intensity combinations to target all aspects of training. It must be done in a periodized manner, with different phases of training.

For example, a lifter might spend a few weeks focusing on volume to build muscles and improve technique. Then, leading up to competition, they shift to a phase of high intensity to develop power and strength, and after a tapering week, they get in the best shape. Now it is your turn to share your thoughts in the comment section below.

References:

1. Ingo Sandau, Urs Granacher, “Effects of the Barbell Load on the Acceleration Phase during the Snatch in Elite Olympic Weightlifting,” Sports 8, no. 5 (2020): 59.
2. Paulo D. G. Santos, João R. Vaz, Paulo F. Correia, Maria J. Valamatos, António P. Veloso, Pedro Pezarat-Correia, “Intermuscular Coordination in the Power Clean Exercise: Comparison between Olympic Weightlifters and Untrained Individuals – A Preliminary Study,” Sensors (Basel) 21, no. 5 (2021): 1904.
3. Seiichiro Takei, Kuniaki Hirayama, Junichi Okada, “Is the Optimal Load for Maximal Power Output during Hang Power Cleans Submaximal?” International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 15, no. 1 (2019): 1-7.
4. Joaquim Paulo Antunes, Rafael Oliveira, Victor Machado Reis, Félix Romero, João Moutão, João Paulo Brito, “Comparison between Olympic Weightlifting Lifts and Derivatives for External Load and Fatigue Monitoring,” Healthcare 10, no. 12 (2022): 2499.
5. All photos are made by Torokhtiy Media team.

Also read:

• Power Clean
• Leg Strength vs Leg Killer
• Weightlifting and Speed
• Volume vs Intensity