Benefits of Olympic weightlifting

We all know the importance of starting physical activity early in life, to build strong foundations for lifelong health and wellbeing. Olympic weightlifting is a form of resistance training, a category of exercise which is growing in popularity as we learn more about its benefits.

Olympic weightlifting involves training to improve coordination, flexibility and of course, muscular strength. Research on young people has shown that resistance training results in improvements in body composition, insulin sensitivity and bone health.

Regular physical activity can result in improved cognitive function and psychological health. Olympic weightlifting is considered an individual sport, making it accessible to young people who do not enjoy team sports, but in reality training is a team effort. Young people are encouraged to work together and support each other during the classes, fostering a team ethos and contributing to social wellbeing.

The Olympic weightlifting movements are used in training for other sports because they contribute to development of speed, power, coordination and robust bones and joints, improving performance and decreasing injury risk.

If you are interested in reading more about the research and recommendations supporting the information above, use the following links:

• Department of Health and Social Care, 2019
• Position statement on youth resistance training: The 2014 International Consensus