ABSTRACT
Olympic weightlifting is a sport event that requires high-technique and stability. In the snatch lift, the barbell is lifted in one continuous motion from the platform to fully extended arms length overhead. The lifter catches the barbell overhead in a deep squat position, and then stands with the barbell in control until a “down” signal is received from the officials. In real competition, a failed attempt occurs when the barbell falls in front of or behind the weightlifter during catch phase because of improper pull force. The general motion characteristics of the snatch technique for elite weightlifters have been mentioned in previous studies (Baumann et al., 1988; Gourgoulis, et al., 2000). However, few studies involved three dimensional kinematics of the barbell. The purpose of this study is to describe the three dimensional kinematics of the barbell during the snatch and to try to find a standard pattern in the barbell trajectory.
