Body Proportions in the Success of Classic Lifts in Weightlifting

Kujtim Kapedani
Proffessor at Sports University of Tirana

Abstract

Weightlifting is a strength sport, a sport that attracts the attention of both the public and athletes, precisely because of the natural human curiosity to learn “Who is the strongest?” Weightlifting competitions take place in more than 160 countries around the world, making this sport universal. The purpose of our study is to determine whether body proportions (height, torso length, leg length, arm length, shoulder width) affect the technique of the classic lifts, specifically avoiding the classic model of this technique. To observe these deviations in technique, we conducted anthropometric measurements of 20 weightlifters from our country to determine the types of body proportions. The comparison of body sizes showed a significant difference between the minimum and maximum of the key proportions of the lifters across all weight categories. The data analysis was conducted using the statistical package SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 20.0) and M.Office Excel 2010. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the linear relationships between numerical variables, with values of p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. It was observed that within the limits of a weight category, there could be lifters with different heights, and on the other hand, lifters with the same height had different leg, arm, torso lengths, shoulder width, and body weight proportions. In our study, it is observed that individuals with the same body weight present different values of body proportions and body height, which also affects the technique of classical lifts, leading to a deviation from the classical model of this technique. Below, in the full text of the article, we will present all the data and values of body proportions, and examine whether they have an impact on the classical lifts in weightlifting, as well as the correlation between the variables.

Presentation