11 tips for your first weightlifting competition

Davit Ghazaryan-Sargsyan
Oct 23, 2015
3 min read

The first competition has great importance for a beginner athlete and may sometimes have a crusial influence on his/her career in the means of self confidence.

The photo is taken from FTAMO.ru

Here we get a piece of advice from the Junior World Weghtlifting Champion 2001, 2004 Athens Olympian, 2010 World vice-Champion (-69 kg) Armen Ghazaryan himself.

(Armen Ghazaryan/Kazaryan at Wroclaw EWC where he was placed 3rd)

Before the competition

1 About your aims and targets (of course, if you are not a genius and are not ready to win from the very first competition):

Your first competition should be a test: you test the stage, you test your self-control.

2 Don't reduce your weight rapidly (at least for the first competition). Maximum 2 kg (4.4 lbs) is recommended. Otherwise you will at least feel stressed because of that.

3 Take some food with you just to have a snack in the case you get hungry (do this after weighing in), as this is the first time and you may misschedule your competition day.

4 If you haven't yet got weightlifting shoes, then choose a pair of shoes with high heels and non-slippery soles. Anyway, weightlifting shoes are recommended.

5 Go there with your coach if you are coached by someone. If you don't have a coach ask a friend(s) to accompany you, also ask him if he can order weights during the competition, as it will be difficult for you to both prepare for your attempts and order weights.

You and the people who will accompany you (even non-professionals) during the competition, should learn the basics of counting competition lifted-weight-and-result mechanism. Your assistants should never miss a detail in the means of own weight + lifted weight combination.

The photo is taken from http://confederation.kz/weightlifting

During the competition

1 Before the competition (a day before or some hours before) get on the stage, if possible (sometimes you are simply not allowed), to feel the stage, as feeling the stage is one of your main tasks for the first competition.

Take into account that everything may be changed in the presence of audience.

2 Try not to get injured in order not to make your first competition to be the last one (always be attentive to your body signals).

3 Do it nicely! Try to perform a beautiful game. Show great technique (technique always matters) in order the leading coaches to notice you as a talented and perspective athlete. Besides, weightlifting fans will love your performance if it's done with a beautiful technique.

4 Try to make maximum use of the 6 attempts you are given,

5 Don't be focused on your experienced opponents even if they are somehow focused on you, don't "run" after their lifts.

6 Don't be upset because of a loss, but tаke it as a lesson.