The athletes lift very heavy weights in weightlifting.
These athletes are called weightlifters.
They have to be very, very strong.
The weights are put on each end of a steel bar.
The bar can weigh up to 575 pounds. This would be like lifting a big cow over your head.
Weightlifters may not drop the bar.
They may have three tries at each lift.
Lifters perform two types of lifts--the snatch and the clean and jerk.
In the snatch, they lift the bar straight above their head in one movement.
In the clean and jerk, they lift the bar to their shoulders, stand up straight, then jerk the bar to arms length above their head.
Weightlifters are put into groups according to their weight. That makes the competition fair.
You must lift more weight than the others in your group to win a gold medal.
Women and men will lift weights at the Sydney Olympic Games.
That will be the first time for women weightlifters at any Olympic Games.
