What is a weightlifter?

[thecityalive]

What is a weightlifter in comparison to a bodybuilder or a powerlifter?

Reason why I ask is because I had a conversation with an aspiring bodybuilding friend of mine who JUST got finished watching a Kai Greene video about "I'll never be a weightlifter."

My buddy said,

Of course powerlifters are weightlifters. The only thing that matters to them is how much weight they put up.

Granted this was in the context of this video where Kai Greene is watching this guy train with all sorts of problems...one of which is sacrificing technique and range of motion for weight.

Now before any of you rage at the above comment, I'm just curious (regardless what training aspirations or lifestyles you adhere to) what parameters one must meet to be a bodybuilder, powerlifter, or a weightlifter?

[drew]

Bodybuilder - Trains to compete on stage as a bodybuilder
Powerlifter - Trains to compete in the Squat, Bench and Deadlift
Weightlifter - Trains to compete in the olympic lifts (Snatch and Clean & Jerk)
Strongman - Tains to compete in the various strongman events.

Anything else is just lifting/working out (except for variations on the above e.g. bench only, highland games, etc).

[Alex.V]

Bodybuilder - Trains to compete on stage as a bodybuilder
Powerlifter - Trains to compete in the Squat, Bench and Deadlift
Weightlifter - Trains to compete in the olympic lifts (Snatch and Clean & Jerk)
Strongman - Tains to compete in the various strongman events.

Anything else is just lifting/working out (except for variations on the above e.g. bench only, highland games, etc).

Yes, thank you. This is why the tag to Allen's article bothers me.

[JSully]

(except for variations on the above e.g. bench only, highland games, etc).

<3

i dunno if that was referenced for me, but i feel speshul

[Behemoth]

With regard to bodybuilding, I've seen a lot of people half ass their way onto the stage with shitty work and lifestyle, they're not bodybuilders. And likewise I could easily pick out 10 or so gymrat friends who have never competed but are far more committed than a handful of amateur competitors on any given show day.

Lifters do the gym part.
Bodybuilders do the lifestyle part in and out of the gym with physique improvement at or near the forefront of their goals.
Competitive bodybuilders do the above and take it to another level with getting on the stage.

[Whoopipally]

This begs the question of where do "Athletes" fall under. At the end of the day though (IMO) I feel it's like arguing what genre a band falls into. Just get the job done and forget the labels.

[f=ma]

being an athlete ends either at the NCAA or pro leagues. if you consider yourself an athlete after that but arent pro or farm league... you are deluding yourself.

[Alex.V]

being an athlete ends either at the NCAA or pro leagues. if you consider yourself an athlete after that but arent pro or farm league... you are deluding yourself.

If you're limiting yourself to the stick'n'ball games, maybe...

[Whoopipally]

being an athlete ends either at the NCAA or pro leagues. if you consider yourself an athlete after that but arent pro or farm league... you are deluding yourself.

I see your perspective. Still debatable maybe. For instance, if a soldier comes home from war, and never touches or does anything military related again, he/she may still consider themselves as a 'soldier.' Just an abstract thought.

[f=ma]

hmm i see what you guys mean

at the same time, i think of "athlete" in terms of profession not so much as a hobby, regardless of how serious that hobby may be.

[CarlP]

I see your perspective. Still debatable maybe. For instance, if a soldier comes home from war, and never touches or does anything military related again, he/she may still consider themselves as a 'soldier.' Just an abstract thought.

I've heard several Marines say, "Once a Marine, always a Marine"

[thecityalive]

hmm i see what you guys mean

at the same time, i think of "athlete" in terms of profession not so much as a hobby, regardless of how serious that hobby may be.

So one can be "athletic", yet not an "athlete?"

I suppose that's what the original question sort of touches base on...do you feel that the term weightlifter applies to one who is a hobbyist in the realm of powerlifting, bodybuilding, olympic lifting, strongman, etc?

[f=ma]

So one can be "athletic", yet not an "athlete?"

im scrunching my face. this reminds me of the age old riddle, "is poker a sport?"

[Cards]

But isn't athletic an adj which describes the features of a person, while athlete, being a noun, is someone. Therefore, someone can have similar features to an athlete without actually being one.

im scrunching my face. this reminds me of the age old riddle, "is poker a sport?"

slowclap.gif

[thecityalive]

[r2473]

being an athlete ends either at the NCAA or pro leagues. if you consider yourself an athlete after that but arent pro or farm league... you are deluding yourself.

So one can be "athletic", yet not an "athlete?"

"If you can't be an athlete be an athletic supporter"

[soclydeza]

If someone plays a musical instrument, they are a musician. If they play a musical instrument professionally then they are a professional musician.

If you lift weights, you are a weightlifter. If you lift weights professionally then you are a professional weightlifter.

If you lift weights for the purpose of aesthetics, you are a bodybuilder. If you lift weights for the purpose of aesthetics professionally then......... you get my point.

Those who are athletic, whether it'd be for hobby/recreation or for money, are still athletes.

[Alex.V]

If someone plays a musical instrument, they are a musician. If they play a musical instrument professionally then they are a professional musician.

If you lift weights, you are a weightlifter. If you lift weights professionally then you are a professional weightlifter.

If you lift weights for the purpose of aesthetics, you are a bodybuilder. If you lift weights for the purpose of aesthetics professionally then......... you get my point.

Those who are athletic, whether it'd be for hobby/recreation or for money, are still athletes.

If you lift weights, you are a weight lifter. Not a Weightlifter, which refers to one who trains for or competes in Olympic Weightlifting.

[chevelle2291]

[JSully]

hmm i see what you guys mean

at the same time, i think of "athlete" in terms of profession not so much as a hobby, regardless of how serious that hobby may be.

it takes time to become a professional in any sport. would you not call a high school wrestler an athlete? what about an amateur strongman?

and yes, I agree one can be athletic without being an athlete.

[f=ma]

it takes time to become a professional in any sport. would you not call a high school wrestler an athlete? what about an amateur strongman?

and yes, I agree one can be athletic without being an athlete.

7 card stud is definitely a sport. thats why you wear sunglasses

[thecityalive]

If you lift weights, you are a weight lifter. Not a Weightlifter, which refers to one who trains for or competes in Olympic Weightlifting.

Ok semantics aside, I did mean the former in your quote then.

[Alex.V]

Ok semantics aside, I did mean the former in your quote then.

Hey, it's not just semantics. One is the proper name of a sport, the other is a word describing an activity.

Which is kind of the point. It's like calling a hurdler a "runner and jumper" or a crossfitter a "sack licker". Yes, technically, that's MOST of what they do as part of their chosen sport (in which they compete or train), but their actual activity has its own unique label, because it has a certain set of rules for competition that the individual trains (and/or competes) under, which may include other activities beyond that basic (potentially majority) component.

"Powerlifters" are weight lifters, yes, but they lift with a specific goal and compete under a certain set of rules, including specifications on the type of lifting done, routines and can include modifications to the lift itself to maximize poundage (arching, wide stance squatting, etc.). Bodybuilding includes weight lifting, but also includes posing, routine practice, dietary modification, etc.

Defining this by competition is sort of silly, though. There are so many different levels of competition that you really can't equate them all. Going out to a local PL tourney put on by some podunk federation judged by amateurs and winning your weight class because you were the only one is very different than competing at a national level in an intensely competitive class. Playing rugby at the intramural level is rarely as competitive as the participants want everyone to believe, yet they call themselves rugby players. The same goes for all sports. It's about the specifics of how and what you train.

[Alex.V]

This begs the question of where do "Athletes" fall under. At the end of the day though (IMO) I feel it's like arguing what genre a band falls into. Just get the job done and forget the labels.

That's not begging the question. Begging the question is using an unsupported statement (which assumes the conclusion) to prove the conclusion.

/pedant

[r2473]

That's not begging the question. Begging the question is using an unsupported statement (which assumes the conclusion) to prove the conclusion.

/pedant

Red herring