idrettsløfting

Idrettsløfting is a Norwegian term that refers to lifting as a component of sport and athletic training. It is not a formal sport with a single governing body, but rather an umbrella term covering strength and lifting activities used to improve performance across various sports, physical education, and rehabilitation. The expression often appears in coaching and fitness literature to describe systematic resistance training and lifting technique development.

Practice commonly includes various forms of weightlifting and strength work: Olympic weightlifting movements such as the snatch and the clean and jerk; more general resistance training using free weights and machines; plyometric and ballistic exercises. Training is typically periodized and tailored to the athlete’s sport, age, and experience, with emphasis on technique, safety, and injury prevention.

Equipment used in idrettsløfting includes barbells, weight plates, squat racks or lifting platforms, chalk, lifting belts, and specialized footwear. Coaches stress proper technique, gradual progression (progressive overload), mobility work, and adequate recovery.

Idrettsløfting overlaps with styrketrening (strength training) and vektløfting (weightlifting) and is distinct from competitive leagues like Olympic weightlifting or powerlifting, which are governed by their own federations. In practice, it serves as a core element of athletic development, rehabilitation programs, and general fitness.