Comparing Olympic and CrossFit Weightlifting Numbers

Weightlifting, a cornerstone of both the Olympics and the CrossFit Games, is often a topic of interest due to the impressive numbers achieved by athletes in these sports. This article compares the weightlifting numbers from the latest Olympics with those from the CrossFit Games, focusing on the two main lifts: the snatch and the clean and jerk. We will also explore how these numbers differ across bodyweight categories and examine the bodyweights of top CrossFit athletes relative to their lifts.

Olympic Weightlifting: An Overview

Olympic weightlifting features two primary lifts: the snatch and the clean and jerk. These lifts are performed in weight categories, which allow athletes of different body sizes to compete fairly.

Unlike at CrossFit, the Olympics take into account the weight of a person’s body. That is because, in theory, the heavier you weigh, the more muscle and stronger you can be. Therefore, at the Olympics, there are multiple categories depending on a person’s body weight.

The categories for men range from 61 kg (134 lb) to over 109 kg (240+ lb), and for women from 45 kg (99 lb) to over 87 kg (192+ lb).

Olympic Weightlifting Records

In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, several weightlifting records were broken. Here’s a brief overview of the top numbers from the competition from four years ago:

Men’s Division:

• 61 kg Category:
  • Snatch: 145 kg by Li Fabin (China)
  • Clean and Jerk: 172 kg by Eko Yuli Irawan (Indonesia)
• 96 kg Category:
  • Snatch: 187 kg by Tian Tao (China)
  • Clean and Jerk: 230 kg by Kianoush Rostami (Iran)
• 109+ kg Category:
  • Snatch: 223 kg by Lasha Talakhadze (Georgia)
  • Clean and Jerk: 265 kg by Lasha Talakhadze (Georgia)

Women’s Division:

• 55 kg Category:
  • Snatch: 98 kg by Hidilyn Diaz (Philippines)
  • Clean and Jerk: 127 kg by Hidilyn Diaz (Philippines)
• 87 kg Category:
  • Snatch: 136 kg by Wang Zhouyu (China)
  • Clean and Jerk: 177 kg by Wang Zhouyu (China)
• 87+ kg Category:
  • Snatch: 145 kg by Li Wenwen (China)
  • Clean and Jerk: 187 kg by Li Wenwen (China)

CrossFit Games Weightlifting: An Overview

The CrossFit Games also feature weightlifting events, with athletes competing in the snatch and clean and jerk among other exercises. Unlike the Olympics, the CrossFit Games do not have weight categories, and athletes are judged on their overall performance across multiple events.

It is typical at the CrossFit Games, the finals where the best of the best are crowned the Fittest on Earth, that athletes need to perform a pure strength workout. Sometimes it is a deadlift competition, but a few times we got to see snatches and also the clean and jerk – and that is how we can compare, sort of.

Why sort of? Well, because of the categories at the Olympics. You have women with a body weight of above 87 kilos (192 pounds), and that is optimal for someone who focuses solely at lifting a weight above their head – as you want to get stronger and bigger.

However, at CrossFit, you need to be good at multiple disciplines. Getting very strong and big can be advantageous for weightlifting events, but when it comes to endurance or gymnastics workouts, the athlete would be in a big disadvantage.

CrossFit Games Weightlifting Records

The all-time records for the snatch and clean and jerk at the CrossFit Games are noteworthy for their impressive numbers. Here are some of the top lifts:

Men’s Division:

• Snatch: 143 kg (315 lbs) by Mat Fraser
• Clean and Jerk: 172 kg (380 lbs) by Rich Froning

Women’s Division:

• Snatch: 97.5 kg (215 lbs) by Tia-Clair Toomey
• Clean and Jerk: 124.7 kg (275 lbs) by Tia-Clair Toomey

Comparing the Numbers

When comparing Olympic weightlifting numbers to those of the CrossFit Games, it is important to consider the context in which these lifts are performed. Olympic weightlifters specialise in these lifts and train specifically to maximise their performance in these movements. CrossFit athletes, on the other hand, train for a broad range of physical activities, which include but are not limited to weightlifting.

As mentioned earlier, CrossFit athletes tend to look for a leaner body composition instead of opting for pure muscle strength. Hence, the numbers below will show you that CrossFit athletes are not that close to cracking some of the best lifts from the Olympics.

Average Numbers

To provide a clearer comparison, let’s look at the average numbers for the snatch and clean and jerk in the previous Olympics (Tokyo 2020) versus the all-time records from the CrossFit Games.

Men’s Division:

• Olympics Average Snatch (Across All Categories): 178.33 kg
• Olympics Average Clean and Jerk (Across All Categories): 222.33 kg

• CrossFit Games Snatch Record: 143 kg
• CrossFit Games Clean and Jerk Record: 172 kg

Women’s Division:

• Olympics Average Snatch (Across All Categories): 126.33 kg
• Olympics Average Clean and Jerk (Across All Categories): 163.67 kg

• CrossFit Games Snatch Record: 97.5 kg
• CrossFit Games Clean and Jerk Record: 124.7 kg

Bodyweight Considerations

Bodyweight plays a significant role in weightlifting performance. Olympic weightlifters compete in specific weight categories, allowing for a direct comparison within each category. In contrast, CrossFit athletes do not have weight classes, and their bodyweights can vary widely.

Bodyweight of Top CrossFit Athletes

• Mat Fraser (Snatch Record Holder): Approximately 88 kg (195 lbs)
• Rich Froning (Clean and Jerk Record Holder): Approximately 88 kg (195 lbs)
• Tia-Clair Toomey (Snatch and Clean and Jerk Record Holder): Approximately 61 kg (135 lbs)

Comparison with Olympic Numbers

To make a more detailed comparison, let’s examine how the best and worst numbers from the last Olympics compare with the CrossFit Games records within the respective bodyweight categories.

Men’s 89 kg Category (Mat Fraser and Rich Froning’s Approximate Bodyweight):

• Best Snatch (Tokyo 2020): 177 kg (390 lbs) by Antonino Pizzolato (Italy)
• Worst Snatch (Tokyo 2020): 157 kg (346 lbs) by Ritvars Suharevs (Latvia)
• Average Snatch (Tokyo 2020): 167 kg (368 lbs)
• Mat Fraser’s Snatch: 143 kg (315 lbs)
• Best Clean and Jerk (Tokyo 2020): 217 kg (478 lbs) by Antonino Pizzolato (Italy)
• Worst Clean and Jerk (Tokyo 2020): 190 kg (418 lbs) by Ritvars Suharevs (Latvia)
• Average Clean and Jerk (Tokyo 2020): 203.5 kg (448.6 lbs)
• Rich Froning’s Clean and Jerk: 172 kg (379 lbs)

Women’s 64 kg Category (Tia-Clair Toomey’s Approximate Bodyweight):

• Best Snatch (Tokyo 2020): 112 kg (247 lbs) by Maude Charron (Canada)
• Worst Snatch (Tokyo 2020): 92 kg (202.8 lbs) by Zhaoxian Wei (China)
• Average Snatch (Tokyo 2020): 102 kg (224.8 lbs)
• Tia-Clair Toomey’s Snatch: 97.5 kg (215 lbs)
• Best Clean and Jerk (Tokyo 2020): 138 kg (304 lbs) by Maude Charron (Canada)
• Worst Clean and Jerk (Tokyo 2020): 117 kg (258 lbs) by Mercedes Perez (Colombia)
• Average Clean and Jerk (Tokyo 2020): 127.5 kg (281 lbs)
• Tia-Clair Toomey’s Clean and Jerk: 124.7 kg (275 lbs)

Conclusion

While the weightlifting numbers from the Olympics are generally higher than those from the CrossFit Games, it is essential to consider the differences in training and competition contexts. Olympic weightlifters specialise in the snatch and clean and jerk and compete within specific weight categories, leading to higher numbers in these lifts. CrossFit athletes, meanwhile, train for a broader range of physical activities and do not compete in weight categories, resulting in more varied performance.

Key Takeaways