The Athletes Congress
~ Olympic Weightlifting Club ~
Strong Since 1986
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About the Athletes Congress
The Athletes
Congress is a chartered Olympic Weightlifting Club of USA Weightlifting. We are
located in the Pacific Weightlifting Association in California, which reaches
from Fresno in the south, to the Reno area in the East, and North to Oregon.
What is a
Weightlifting Club?
An Olympic Weightlifting club is a group of Olympic Weightlifters and
others interested in the sport of Olympic Weightlifting. Members may be
Olympic Weightlifters, coaches, referees, scorekeepers, fans, and
athletes who compete in other sports.
Frequently clubs sponsor athletes, put on Weightlifting meets sanctioned
by the National Governing Body, and sponsor other activities of interest to
the Weightlifting community.
The international governing body of the sport of Olympic Weightlifting
is the IWF (International Weightlifting Federation).
In the U.S., the governing body sanctioned by the IWF is USA Weightlifting.
USA Weightlifting governs through Local Weightlifting Associations throughtout
the U.S.
Each registered Olympic Weightlifter in the U.S. is a member of USA Weightlifting
and a Local Weightlifting Association in his or her home area.
Each Local Weightlifting Association may have one or more Clubs chartered by
USA Weightlifting.
The only way to become a member of the US Olympic Team in Weightlifting
is to compete and qualify in contests, or meets, sanctioned by
USA Weightlifting.
What is
Olympic Weightlifting?
Olympic
Weightlifting is the supreme competition of strength, agility, and athleticism.
Olympic Weightlifters are the strongest athletes on the planet. Both men and
women compete, and beginning in 2000 women competed at the Olympic level
for the first time.
Olympic
Weightlifting is a competition in two types of lifts; the Snatch, and the Clean
and Jerk. Each lifter must compete in both lifts. The winner of a competition
is determined by the total weight of his or her best snatch, and best clean
& jerk in the competition. Competitors compete in body-weight classes
similar in concept to wrestlers and boxers.
Competitions
take place on various levels. Generally, in order to compete on the next level,
you must qualify to do so at an officially sanctioned meet.
For example, in
order to compete in a State Championship, you will have had to qualify to
compete by lifting a certain amount in a sanctioned local contest.
In addition to the
Olympics, which take place every four years, there are World Championships
every non-Olympic year, various international competitions on a yearly basis,
such as the Panonia Cup, Kanata Cup, Blue Sword tournament, and others. The
United States hold National Championships yearly in the springtime.
Who can
compete?
There are
competitions to suit many levels of competitor. There are the Junior Olympic
competitions and Masters Competitions, which are age-graded. There are National
level competitions at the collegiate level, and the American Open, and open
National level competition. There is a level of competition for every athlete
wishing to compete. No one is left out.
What can we
do for you?
If you are
currently involved in Olympic Weightlifting, or if you would like to be, the
Athletes Congress can help you. The Athletes Congress provides:
Coaching
for any level of athlete. We can get you started from ground zero, training you in
person in the exercises and movements required for the Olympic lifts. For
the intermediate lifter, we provide movement into the advanced category of
lifting by working your weak points, and emphasizing the strengths. For
the elite lifter, we have coaches experienced in all levels of competition
to fully develop your potential. We will be there at the competitions with
you, guiding your success.
News and Information. We publish a newsletter full of
International, National, and local news and items of interest. Don't be
left out of the information loop.
Representation. Members of the Athletes Congress are represented at local and
national board meetings. We represent our lifters interests to the local
Board of Directors, and the National Board of Governors, and the National
Board of Directors.
Camaraderie.
When we lift together at a contest, we provide mutual support to each of
our members. We train together and become strong together.
Experienced lifters and certified coaches &
officials. Members of the
Athletes Congress are men and women deeply involved in the sport of
Olympic Weightlifting. We know the rules, and the routes to success. Our
coaches and officials are certified by United States Weightlifting.
All
the above is free. No
cost coaching, guidance, information and more. The only
cost is your membership in USA Weightlifting, which is required of every
competitor regardless of club affiliation. We do this to make America a
Stronger Place, and a better place for Weightlifting!
The Athletes
Congress is a club:
By the Athletes
Of the Athletes
For the Athletes
Email: The Athletes Congress