NEW JERSEY WEIGHTLIFTING HALL OF FAME

New Jersey has a rich history in the sport of weightlifting. Many champions, clubs, and others associated with the iron game have called the Garden State home. This will recognize those who have left their mark on the sport as well as establish a sense of tradition for present and future lifters.

WEIGHTLIFTING Weightlifting consists of the two overhead lifts, the snatch and the clean & jerk. They are often called the olympic lifts because this is the type of lifting that is contested in the Olympics. The overhead press was also included in the Olympics from 1928 till 1972. The snatch is completed by pulling the weight from the floor to an arms locked overhead position in one continuous movement. Lifters are permitted to squat or split under the weight as it is being lifted. This is a very athletic move which is completed in under 2 seconds. The clean & jerk is done by pulling the weight from the floor to the shoulders in one motion. The weight is then pushed overhead to a locked position in one move. The lifter may squat or split under the weight in both the clean or jerk phases. COMPETITION Weightlifting is divided into weight classes. The classes have changed through the years. There are currently 8 weight classes for men and 7 weight classes for women. Competition is also sometimes divided by age. Senior is the open category. There are also teenage or junior categories and masters categories for those over 35 years of age.