A Comparison of Maximal Power Outputs between Elite Male and Female Weightlifters in Competition

Abstract

Films taken at the first Women’s World Weightlifting Championship were analyzed to determine the average power output during the total pulling phase, and the second pull phase, for the heaviest successful snatch and clean lift of gold medalists in each of nine body-weight divisions. Comparisons were made with previously published data on power output by male lifters in World and Olympic competition. Average relative power output values were one and a half to two times greater for both men and women when only the second pull phase of each lift was analyzed. Results show that women can generate higher short-term power outputs than previously documented, but lower than for men in absolute values and relative to body mass. Male/female comparisons in other high power sport events and basic strength measures are discussed. The high power outputs suggest the value of including the types of lifts analyzed in training programs to improve short-term power output.

Kinematic Analysis of the Snatch Technique used by Japanese and International Female Weightlifters at the 2006 Junior World Championship

“…Hoover et al made a 2-dimensional kinematic analysis on weightlifters in the U.S. National Weightlifting Championships and then suggested that the drop distance during the catch phase was long in comparison with existing reports on male weightlifters (Figure 1). Further, a study on international level weightlifters reported that male weightlifters had slower maximum velocities of the barbell being lifted than female weightlifters had (Garhammer, 1991). Thus, the previous studies on female weightlifters have shown several differences from male weightlifters.…”

“…Many previous studies have evaluated variable parameters obtained from the barbell displacement (Burdett, 1982;Garhammer, 1985;Baumann et al, 1988;Garhammer, 1991;Isaka et al, 1996;Gourgoulis et al, 2000Gourgoulis et al, , 2002Gourgoulis et al, , 2004Campos et al, 2006;Hoover et al, 2006). …”

A comparison of maximal power clean performances performed from the floor, knee and mid-thigh

“…5 Initial observational studies using Olympic Weightlifters determined that the second pull phase resulted in the highest bar velocities and therefore the greatest power output, as determined from bar velocity using an inverse dynamics approach. [6][7][8][9][10][11] In addition Enoka 12 , Häkkinen, Kanhanen and Komi 13 and Souza et al 14 identified that the second pull phase of the clean pull produced the highest vertical ground reaction force. More recently, the mid-thigh power clean has also been reported to generate greater peak force, rate of force development (RFD) and peak power in comparison to the hang power clean (starting from the knee) and the power clean (starting from the floor) 15,16 and is therefore a valuable exercise to include in a program for athletes new to Olympic lifting who require an increase in power.…”

Curved characteristics best suited for Growth rates, Relative strength and Performance Time of female Olympic weightlifters

“…(13,27,30). The results also showed that of performance time of pull phase II is less than a performance time pull phase I in each of snatch and clean& jerk for female lifters (11,12). Where short duration pull phase II indicates that I have the power female lifters much bigger than it was in the pull phase I, That is where the power = work/ time P=W/T (15,21,23,24,25).…”

“…Clean & clean and performance total T. of lifts, including the increase in relative strength rate refers to development of strength in the muscle group to participate in the Kinetic performance of the lifts snatch and clean& jerk for female lifters 58 kg category for muscle group involved in Kinetic performance for female lifters 75, +75 kg category. Who lack the strength and muscle mass compared with lightweights, so attention must be paid to developing muscle strength have lifters categories of heavyweights in the training programs and work to increase muscle mass they have (12,13,14,19,22,28).…”