Topic: "gear" or "equipement" used in Oly lifting

[Ryan Lapadat]

Reading the rule book on gear used for Olympic lifting it says you can use "bandages" made of gauze or even leather on your knees and wrists. And that there is no limit to the length of the bandages.

Also you can wear tight fitting garments under your uniform I believe.

Am I reading that wrong? Is this right?

If so, how has Olympic weight lifting avoided the demise of Powerlifting (getting all these greedy "gear" companies finding loop holes to sell stuff to help increase your numbers).

Can some one clear this up for me? What is allowed for lifters to assist them in Olympic weightlifting.

[Shaun Le Conte]

From the IWF technical handbook
http://www.iwf.net/doc/technical.pdf
-----------------------------------------

OUTFIT OF THE COMPETITORS
4.1 COSTUME
4.1.1 Competitors must wear clothing which is clean, designed and worn so as to
comply with the following criteria:
The costume:
• may be one-piece or two pieces but must cover the trunk of the
competitor;
• must be close fitting;
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• must be collar-less;
• may be of any colour;
• must not cover the elbows;
• must not cover the knees.
4.1.2 a) A T-shirt may be worn under the costume. The sleeves must not
cover the elbows. This shirt must be collar-less.
b) Close fitting leotard / cycling trunks may be worn under or over the
costume. They must not cover the knees.
4.1.3 A T-shirt and trunks may not be worn instead of the costume.
4.1.4 At competitions, the athletes participate in the uniform clothing issued /
approved by their Federation. For this purpose, the Victory Ceremony is
considered part of the competition.
4.1.5 Socks may be worn, but they must not go higher than below the knees and
must not cover any bandages on forbidden areas.
4.2 WEIGHTLIFTING FOOTWEAR
4.3 BELT
4.3.1 The maximum width of the belt may not exceed 120 mm.
4.3.2 No belt may be worn under the competitor's costume.
4.4 BANDAGES, TAPES AND PLASTERS
4.4.1 Bandages, tapes or plasters may be worn on the wrists, the knees and the
hands. Tape or plasters may be worn on the fingers or the thumbs.
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4.4.2 The bandages may be made of gauze, medical crepe or leather. A one-piece
elastic bandage or rubberised kneecap, which allows free movement, may be
worn over the knees. This latter piece of equipment cannot be reinforced in
any way.
4.4.3 On the wrists, the bandages must not cover more than 100 mm of skin.
4.4.4 On the knees, the bandages must not cover more than 300 mm of skin.
4.4.5 There is no limit to the length of the bandages.
4.4.6 The use of plasters or bandages on both the inner and outer surface of the
hands is allowed. These plasters tapes or bandages may be attached to the
wrist but not to the bar.
4.4.7 Plasters on the fingers are allowed but must not protrude in front of the
fingertips.
4.4.8 In order to protect the palm of the hands, wearing special fingerless gloves is
allowed e.g. gymnastic palm guards, cycling gloves. These gloves may cover
only the first phalanx of the fingers. If plasters are worn on the fingers, there
has to be a visible separation between the plasters and the glove.
4.4.9 No bandages or substitutes are allowed on the following parts of the body:
a) the elbows
b) the trunk
c) the thighs
d) the shins
e) the arms
NOTE: In the event of an injury, the doctor on duty may apply plasters on any
bleeding part of the body.
4.4.10 Only one type of bandage may be worn or authorised on any part of the body.
4.4.11 There has to be a visible separation between the costume and the
bandage(s).
4.5 On each piece of equipment of the weightlifters' outfit, the IWF allows the
identification of the manufacturer and/or their sponsor (in accordance with By-
Law 1.4). At Olympic Games, the IOC rules prevail.

[Shaun Le Conte]

Watch videos, what are they wearing? Often times the world champions are wearing nothing but a singlet
If there was something in the rules that enabled them to lift more, they'd be wearing it

[Ryan Lapadat]

Oh, I have noticed, I am wondering how Olympic weightlifting has keep the "gear" companies out. Seems they have a few loop holes to get into in there.

Does not wearing a belt help out?
Does the belt get in the way?

[Matt Erdman]

Does not wearing a belt help out?
Does the belt get in the way?

Maybe.
Maybe.

I think it is the long standing of weightlifting in the Olympics that makes the difference. After all, making that kind of change to an Olympic sport would be pretty much impossible. Since it wouldn't happen in the Olympics, why would anyone train any differently? Also most coaches have a history as competitors, and they wouldn't want to mess up a sport they competed in.

[Ryan Lapadat]

Its not them (the choaches) but companies that see where they can make supportive equipment that is legal in competition. the supportive equipment would help the lifters in terms of injuries, add some weight to their lifts, etc. The fact that it is in the Olympics will not deter the companies, it might actually make it more of a profitable business as there would be more competitors world wide that would buy it. Imagine all the masters that wish to continue lifting, and have all these nagging injuries.

So how are they kept out? Its not just the honor of the Olympics. That is a romantic view of it. If that was the case there would not be steroids disgracing the athletes, their countries they represent, and the sport as a whole.

BTW, I am dead set against gear companies, and do not want them in. I am just curious how they did not get into Olympic lifting, and would like to know how. Powerlifting could use some advice from this.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

There are strict rules regarding apparel- http://www.iwf.net/iwf/sport_org/weightlifting_sport/rules.php

And, there is no gear in existence anywhere near the equivalent of whats going on in powerlifting. Those crazy suits just aren't going to help you snatch and clean and jerk and belts don't matter or at most matter very little and belt sizes are regulated, as if a bigger belt will help you snatch or clean and jerk. 

What makes weightlifting special is that when the time comes, it is just you and the barbell. Nothing else really matters much, with the exception of referees.

[Ryan Lapadat]

I think it is the the need for speed and agility that makes any suits and such useless in Olympic lifts. And there is not much room to work with in the rules. Though I am suprized to not see more people wrapping their knees.

Does knee wrapping not help out? If for nothing else, to keep your knees lasting longer? Or does it restrict too much movement?

Thanks,

Ryan