Guest Post: A Brief History of Medicine at the Olympics

Today, most of the attention at the Olympics is aimed at doping, so it’s very easy to overlook all other medical interventions that happen during the most important sporting event in the world. However, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, diet experts and all other medical staff play a huge role in keeping athletes healthy, safe and happy.... Continue Reading →

The History of the Olympic Barbell

A friend of mine recently made a very serious and from my perspective funny discovery. Having spent months training in a University gym replete with shiny new barbells, he decided to join me in my own gym for a catch up and quick training session. Ever the opportunist, he decided it was 'Chest Day' and... Continue Reading →

The History of the Olympic Barbell

A friend of mine recently made a very serious and from my perspective funny discovery. Having spent months training in a University gym replete with shiny new barbells, he decided to join me in my own gym for a catch up and quick training session. Ever the opportunist, he decided it was 'Chest Day' and... Continue Reading →

Drug-taking in Ancient Times

Performance enhancing drugs seem to become more problematic every year. Athletes are getting bigger, stronger and faster. Spectators are getting curious, suspicious and concerned. Performance enhancing drugs have touched nearly every major sport at one level or another. It's a modern problem right? Well not exactly... Research into the Ancient Greek Olympics has uncovered evidence... Continue Reading →

Louis Abele Training Programme

Although unknown to the modern olympic lifter, Abele was one of America's finest lifters during the 1940s and 1950s. Unfortunately he was overshadowed by fellow US lifters John Grimek, Steve Stanko, and John Davis during the course of his career. Similarly the outbreak of the Second World War denied Abele the chance to lift at... Continue Reading →

Weightlifting at the 1904 Olympics

It was the first time that the Olympic Games were held outside of Europe and the first time they were held in an English speaking country. It was heralded as a monumental step in the internationalisation of the Olympic spirit and it was prompted as such. Unfortunately, the reality of the 1904 St. Louis Olympics proved to... Continue Reading →

The History of Weightlifting Shoes

This work is largely a retelling of Andrew Charniga Jr.'s excellent post 'Why Weightlifting Shoes' available on his website here. Any errors are of course my own and I do recommend you check out the original.  A regular problem for gym goers concerns the right type of shoes to wear and this is especially the... Continue Reading →

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