In the snatch, the bar is lifted from the floor to above the head using one smooth movement

The ‘Clean and Jerk’ is a two-stage action – the bar is brought up to the shoulders before being ‘jerked’ over the head using arm and leg strength

Iranian Hossein Rezazadeh holds the men’s +105kg world record for weightlifting, lifting a massive 213kg snatch and 263kg clean and jerk

Weightlifters put chalk on their hands to help them grip the bar

The women's competition was first included at the Sydney Olympics in 2000

Each competitor is allowed three attempts at each lift. The heaviest weight lifted in each discipline for each person is recorded. The heaviest combination of both lifts wins the gold medal. If a tie on weight lifted occurs, the person with the lowest body weight wins

An athlete has one minute to perform a lift, and a warning bell sounds when 30 seconds remain

Olympic weightlifting comprises of two lifts, the clean and jerk and the snatch

Competitors’ bodyweights are used to break ties, with the lighter lifter winning out

Weightlifting debuted at the Arafura Games in 2005