Investigation of the Relationship between Physical Characteristics and Relative Strength in Weightlifters

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between some maximal strength measurements and relative strength, anthropometric parameters of Turkish National Weightlifting Team. 13 male national weightlifters, They have got degrees in Olympic, Earth, Europe and Turkey Championships, participated as voluntary in this study .Their average ages was 26,2 ±14,4 (year), average height was 168,4 ± 7,2 (cm), average weight had 77,3±15,3 (kg). Weight, height, diameter and circumference were measured as dependent variables, clean jerk relative strength, snatch relative strength; total relative strength and chest pull relative strength were measured as independent variables of weightlifters. Arithmetic averages, standard deviation, minimal and maximal value of measurement results were examined. Relative strength and anthropometric measurement results were tested with Pearson correlation. As a results, the relationship between height, weight, BMI, sport age, breath functions, diameter, circumference, body fat percentage and clean jerk relative strength, snatch relative strength, squat relative strength and chest pull were found negative relationship at the 0.05 and 0.01 levels. These findings suggest that weightlifting athletes with short height, light body weight, and low BMI have more advantage with respect to relative strength.