Olympic lifting at gym - just for men??

[Mikunia]

I'm currently trialling a new gym and they have something called olympic lifting as a class. Is this suitable for everyone? Or will it be full of beefy men? I usually use quite light weights and am nearly 50.

I booked on but I'm not sure if I should cancel the class. It's tomorrow!

I love Olympic lifting, definitely not just for men! The weights can be varied by adding more or less to the bar. Please give it a try!

Women lift too in the Olympics, so even if it is full of beefy men, the instructor could still show you all the correct postures and techniques to avoid injury and give you a weight you can work with.

I'd give it a go. It sounds brilliant!

I’m 51 and I do Olympic lifting (badly, with light weights!). It’s the best fun and makes you feel like a total badass. Do it!
(Caveat - your mobility, especially shoulders, does need to be decent but your instructor will tell you if there’s anything you shouldn’t be doing.)

Ok I'm reassured! I'm going! I'll report back tomorrow.

My mobility is good, I'm just out of practice in terms of weight so I'll be looking to lift light.

Olympic lifting is just a style of weightlifting, based on fast, explosive lifting and gradually increasing the weight lifted. It tends to use lighter weights than Powerlifting.

I've been doing it for 15 months. I love it I'm 53, I'd never lifted until I started, although I've always been fairly fit.

Well I did it! It was a small class, all women, and really hard work! It was fun though. I just need to get the technique better. The instructor was fab and helped correct me. I've booked for next week already!

I love that it was all women! That's so cool.

brilliant. I'd definitely do that if there was a gym near me that offered it.

That sounds so good!!!!

Amazing, well done!