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Strong Women
Olympic weightlifting for beginners: how to do a barbell snatch
By Alice Porter
3 years ago
2 min read
The barbell snatch is one of the most well-known weightlifting movements. Here’s a guide on how to do it, even if you’re a lifting newbie.
The phrase “olympic weightlifting” might seem a little scary, mostly because it implies that you should be lifting weights at an olympic level – a prospect which is, of course, intimidating. But actually, it’s not about competing at all.
It’s actually just a way to describe some of the lifting movements that weightlifters perform. And when you think about it, most sports or fitness activities are something that are also done at an olympic level – swimming, running and football to name a few.
Admittedly, some of the movements olympic weightlifters complete do look difficult, especially the barbell snatch. If you haven’t heard of the exercise, you might recognise it - it involves moving a barbell from the floor to an overhead position – and very quickly.
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