Is it Powerlifting or Olympic-style weightlifting? Here’s how you can tell them apart

When it comes to strength sports, Olympic-style weightlifting and powerlifting often find themselves at the center of the conversation, each with its own unique moves and devoted communities.

Now let’s be honest, whether you are an experienced gym-goer or a curious beginner you have probably wondered at some point (if you’ve seen them in your gym) what the heck are these people doing?

By the end of this explainer you’ll be able to tell the difference between both sports and correct anyone who tries to tell you that CrossFit and Olympic-style weightlifting are the same thing (spoiler alert: they are not).

While both sports revolve around lifting heavy weights, the goal and techniques are different.

“The main outcome is probably the only similarity, which is, how much can you lift,” said JoshMartin, head coach at Valhalla Weightlifting.

Simply put, powerlifting focuses on lifting the maximum amount of weight you can, regardless of how long it takes you and weightlifting focuses on explosive power by lifting really heavy weight at a faster pace.

Although both sports emphasize technique, the consequences of a technical miscalculation differ significantly.

“There are ways in powerlifting in which they do work on things like speed and technical areas, but it's not as intense and it's not nearly as damaging to an athlete in powerlifting versus weightlifting to have technique go awry,” Martin said.

The moves

Powerlifting focuses on three moves: squat, bench and deadlift. Weightlifting focuses on two main lifts: the clean and jerk and the snatch.

The clean and jerk is a move where you lift a barbell off the ground to shoulder height and then you press it overhead. For the snatch, the goal is to lift the weight off the ground to an overhead position in a single, fluid move.

“Weightlifting has many different expressions of strength. It's timing, it's the speed of the barbell, the internal power that you must ensure your tendons are creating. It’s very different from powerlifting,” explained Austin Van Dam, head coach at Synaptic Strength.

Why CrossFit and Olympic-style weightlifting are not the same thing

While a lot of people are first introduced to weightlifting through CrossFit, the mindset and precision that goes into doing these moves at a weightlifting level is very different.

Yvanna Sol, Olympic weightlifter who started her journey through CrossFit has wrestled with the weight of adapting to that mindset.

“CrossFit kind of set me up for failure. Because the thing about CrossFit is that you need to perform the lifts fast (and as many) as you can. So technique literally goes out the door, as long as you can lift it over your head, you're done,” she said.

“We need you a little more well mannered. We need you a little more focused on that one thing,” said Van Dam

The mental component

Experts and athletes agree that part of what makes sports like weightlifting and powerlifting so special is the art of mastering your mind.

“Every challenge that an athlete faces in any sport is always going to be a measure of self doubt about your ability to do the thing and learning how to switch your brain off and to develop an instinctual relationship with the sport and operate without thought,” said Martin.

This mental training and having a good team around you becomes even more pivotal as athletes face physical setbacks.

Logan Heffron, a 22-year-old powerlifter for team Canada said having a good support system is what got him through a challenging injury only 10 weeks out from qualifying for his first worlds competition.

“I have a very, very good support system. Whether it's my coach, my friends, my

physiotherapists. I had a lot of people that definitely backed me up,” he said.