Weightlifting the Sport

Excel in the Sport of Weightlifting!

Weightlifting

Interested in the Olympic sport of weightlifting? Look for a qualified coach with a sensible training program.

"Locating a qualified coach with a good working knowledge of the Olympic sport of weightlifting is a challenge," according to Harvey Newton. "Weightlifting is a very small sport in America, with only about 3,000 registered athletes and very few qualified coaches."

Olympic Coach Harvey Newton has nearly 40 years of coaching experience. He’s coached local clubs, high school and college athletes, and top elite lifters at the national and international levels, including the 1984 Olympic Games.

And, he still coaches a limited number of athletes, either personally or online. Using Dartfish and Myotest technology, Coach Newton utilizes both standard and advanced methods of training to improve performance.

"Newcomers are confused when they hear the common, yet incorrect, term Olympic lifting or Olympic weightlifting to describe weightlifting," Newton says. "The word Olympic is copyrighted and legally restricted." Coach Newton recently confirmed with US Olympic Committee legal staff that the expressions Olympic weightlifting, Olympic lifting, and Olympic-style weightlifting are improper.

"Over the past 30+ years, there have been only six (6) US men’s Olympic Team coaches (and 2 women’s team)," says Coach Newton, coach of the 1984 USA team. "Far too many people are eager to say ‘I’m an Olympic weightlifting coach (or Olympic lifter),’ when they’ve had absolutely nothing to do with an Olympic team. A novice can be quickly and easily misled."

Learn more about Coach Newton’s proper use of terminology, click below:
Terminology (PDF)
Terminology II (PDF)

Contact Olympic Coach Harvey Newton when you’re ready to set up a solid weightlifting program for you or a team or when you need assistance in your current program of instruction of advanced, explosive training.

"Weightlifting is a fundamental component of the CrossFit prescription. As coaches, we have a responsibility to provide safe and effective instruction to our clients. We also have a unique opportunity to share the world's most explosive sport with our incredible community. Proper education in weightlifting is an invaluable service that we can provide both for our community and for the sport.

In May, we had the privilege to host Harvey Newton for his Level I Sports Performance Coaching Course sponsored by USA Weightlifting. Having dedicated most of his life to the sport, Coach Newton's resume speaks for itself. What makes him truly special as an instructor is his ability to relate to coaches and athletes of all levels; from novice to Olympian.

Quality coaches are in high demand in the CrossFit community. Registration for Coach Newton's two-day course at CrossFit Fort Vancouver practically took care of itself. With participants from across the country as well as Canada, enrollment quickly reached capacity.

Along with developing quality coaches nationwide, Coach Newton's course could not have come at a better time for our gym. We immediately began implementing the techniques and programming portions into our daily workouts. Our beginners have never had a more solid foundation to build upon. Our competitive athletes have been rewarded with improvements in performance across the board. It's no coincidence that eight weeks after Coach Newton's course, our team put it all together to win the Affiliate Cup at the 2010 CrossFit Games.

If you're thinking about participating or hosting Coach Newton for a Sports Performance Course, stop thinking. Do it. You need it. Your clients deserve it."

Adam Neiffer (Owner) and Bridget Raach
Coaches, CrossFit Fort Vancouver
"As a professional coach for the past 15 years, I understand the importance of communicating complex material to your athlete. Coach Newton takes a unique, first person, position in this text; coaching through his own words. As I read this material I feel like Coach Newton is in the gym holding me accountable for my technique as a masters athlete and as a coach for how I am coaching my athletes. What a great presentation.

Coach Newton has beautifully finalized the controversial issue of: 'bar contact with the thighs' when performing in the clean. His discussion will leave no doubt in your mind regarding correct, powerful pulling."

Doug Lane, BS, CSCS
CrossFit Coach
USAW Coach