Equipment
What type of clothing do lifters usually wear?
Olympic weightlifting
Olympic weightlifting uses a steel bar with rotating sleeves (also known as a barbell) which hold rubber-coated discs of different weights. The weight plates, typically referred to as "bumper plates" because of their rubber design, weigh between 0.5kg and 25kg. These plates are secured to the bar using collars on each sleeve that weigh exactly 2.5kg each. Lifters typically wear a one-piece, close-fitting leotard often called a singlet. The wearing of a t-shirt underneath the singlet is optional. A weightlifting belt of 120mm maximum width may also be worn to provide lower back support. Perhaps the piece of equipment most peculiar to Olympic weightlifting are the shoes worn by lifters. Weightlifting shoes are typically designed with a raised heel of 0.5" to 1.5" and one or two metatarsal straps that tighten across the instep of the shoe. The shoes are designed for maximum stability while remaining flexible in the toebox. This allows the lifter to come up on their toes and catch the weight on the ball of their back foot during the "jerk" movement of their lift. The raised heel helps the lifter maintain an upright torso while catching the bar and also allows for a deeper squat under the bar.