Powerful Discoveries: Top 10 Surprising and Fun Facts About Weightlifting You Never Knew

1. Ancient Greek Beefcake Aerobics

Greek strongmen were no "bull"ies, but rumor has it they loved them some beefcake aerobics: Ancient Greek athletes strengthened their muscles by lifting actual bulls and carrying heavy volcanic stones, all while practicing progressive overload. They also climbed trees, pulled carts, and dabbled in beach running, making sure to flex their mental muscles through philosophy readings and intellectual debates at on-site libraries!
Source => bbc.com

2. Edward Levy's 1891 Championship Debut

Talk about a heavy situation: the first weightlifting world championships in 1891 showcased Edward Lawrence Levy's brawn, with only six countries participating, but now boasts upwards of 585 athletes from over 70 countries, including women who have been flexing their muscles since 1987!
Source => iwf.sport

Did you know that the 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln had an impressive wrestling career before becoming a legendary leader? Discover how he won most of his 300 bouts and became an "Outstanding American" in the sport! 🤼🎩💪

=> Fun Facts about Wrestling

3. 1896 Olympic Weightlifting Musical Chairs

Olympic weightlifting had a bit of a twist in its early years, with competitors engaging in a friendly game of one-handed "gymnastic musical chairs": At the 1896 Olympics, two weightlifting events were contested – men's one hand lift and two hand lift – and the top two spots were claimed by the same two champs in both events, with their order swapping and bronze medals being divided between two Greek weightlifters. Who knew sport could be so hilariously symmetrical?
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Bedazzled Weightlifter Accessories

In a league of their own, weightlifters bedazzle and bewitch with their dainty adornments and magical chalk dust rituals: In reality, to avoid injury while displaying their Herculean strength, weightlifters are permitted to wear tape to protect vulnerable areas like wrists and thumbs and often apply chalk to their hands to provide a dry, slip-free grip on the barbell.
Source => olympics.com

5. Elephant Lifting Extravaganza

If you think you're strong because you can lift your own body weight, remember this: an elephant can balance a small car and juggle baby hippopotamuses (okay, maybe not, but you get the point): Elephants can lift an astounding 10% of their own colossal body weight when standing on two legs, which amounts to around 1,100-1,300 pounds! When lying down, these gentle giants can lift up to 50% of their weight - that's around 2-3 tons. No wonder their trunks are likened to forklifts, lifting an impressive 660-700 pounds all by themselves.
Source => elephantguide.com

6. Katie Sandwina: Buns of Steel Pioneer

Before the "she's got buns of steel" was even a slogan, one woman took it to a whole new level: Katie Sandwina, a German-born strongwoman from the late 1800s and early 1900s, could lift her husband with one hand, press 200 pounds overhead, and support heavy objects on her back, even defeating famed strongman Eugen Sandow in a lifting contest and adopting his last name as a trophy. Despite the era's conservative views on women's bodies, Sandwina and her fellow female strongwomen laid the groundwork for the rise of women's strength sports.
Source => barbend.com

7. Hossein Rezazadeh's Herculean Record

In a Herculean feat that would make Zeus himself weep tears of whey protein, this Iranian powerhouse lifted more than just our spirits when he conquered Olympic-sized weights: Hossein Rezazadeh holds the world record in the clean and jerk for weightlifting's super heavyweight class with a stupendous lift of 263.5kg, achieved at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and recognized by the International Weightlifting Federation.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Lasha Talakhadze: Heavy Hitting Champion

Feeling a bit "weight-listless"? Look no further, for Lasha Talakhadze is here to lift your spirits, accompanied by weights heavier than your emotional baggage: This Georgian Hercules holds the all-time world records in the snatch (225 kg), clean and jerk (267 kg), and total (492 kg) since 2021! Lasha's gold-standard résumé boasts six world championship titles, seven European championship titles, and two Olympic gold medals – talk about one heavy hitter!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Liquid Chalk: Sanitary Superhero

Grip it and sip it, fitness fanatics, because this workout wonder is both your BFF and frenemy to germs: Liquid chalk is not only a weightlifter's secret weapon for a strong hold, but also a sanitary superhero with its anti-microbial prowess, helping to keep hands clean and prevent the spread of viruses like COVID-19, all while staying put even better than its powdery counterpart.
Source => liquidchalk.shop

10. Weightlifting's Heavy Metal Drama

Weightlifters: putting the "heavy" in "heavy metal" since the early 1900s! These iron-pumping athletes have hoisted more than just weights—they've lifted an entire sport, with the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) overseeing 193 affiliated national federations and prestigious worldwide events. But much like their bulging biceps, doping and corruption scandals have put the IWF in a precarious position – so much so, that thet've been told to clean their act up by the International Olympic Committee, or risk getting wiped off from the 2028 Olympics.
Source => en.wikipedia.org