Weightlifting
Big weights, big lifts and big emotions are on show as the Commonwealth’s strongest men and women compete in various weight categories. When it comes to securing medals, every lift counts, and the scoreboard becomes a tactical race for gold.
Weightlifters compete in two weightlifting disciplines – the snatch and the clean and jerk – and perform three lifts in each category.
The snatch is where the weightlifter picks up the barbell with a wide grip and lifts it above their head in one singular motion.
In the clean and jerk, the weightlifter is first required to pick up the barbell and bring it up to their chest (clean). The lifter pauses and the extend their arms and legs to lift it above the head (jerk) with a straight elbow. They must hold it there until a buzzer sounds.
A weightlifter is given three snatch attempts and three clean and jerk attempts each. The weight on the bar increases incrementally through the competition and each lifter must tactically choose which weights they will attempt. A weightlifter’s best attempt at snatch and the clean and jerk are then added together and the one with the highest combined weight lifted is declared the winner.
Previous Commonwealth Games Appearances
Weightlifting was first contested at the 1950 Games in Auckland and has been part of the Commonwealth Games programme ever since.
Oh Brother
At the Kuala Lumpur 1998 Games, twin brothers Stuart and Tommy Yule found themselves on opposing teams due to a quirk of residency rules. Stuart competed for Scotland while Tommy competed for England. They were reunited in wearing Scotland colours at Manchester 2002.
Para Powerlifting
Para Powerlifting represents the ultimate test of upper body strength with athletes competing in the bench press discipline.
Para Powerlifters must lower the bar to their chest, hold it motionless on the chest and then press it upwards to arms-length with locked elbows.
Then an immediate decision shall be given by the three nominated international referees through a system of white and red lights. Two or more white lights signify a good lift and two or more red lifts reflect a no lift.
Athletes are given three attempts and the winner is the athlete who successfully lifts the highest number of kilograms.
Upon discretion of the jury a fourth attempt may be allowed to achieve a new world record, but this attempt does not count towards the final competition result.
Such is the strength of athletes competing in this sport, that it is not uncommon to see a competitor lift more than three times their own body weight.
Previous Commonwealth Games Appearances
Men’s Para Powerlifting made its Commonwealth Games debut in Manchester, England in 2002, joined by the women’s competition in Delhi, India in 2010. Over ten years later, it’s one of the fastest-growing Para Sports on the world stage.
How heavy is heavy?
Para Powerlifters routinely lift two or three times their own body weight. The World Record for the largest Para Powerlift in the highest weight category was set by Siamand Rahman in 2016, with a mind-boggling 310kg lift. That's roughly the weight of a grand piano!
