Psychological aspects

Analysis of the Individual Psychological Features of the Competitive Performance of Leading Weightlifters at the Moscow Olympic Games

V. A. Polyakov, Moscow

English summary of Tyazhelaya Atletika. Ezhegodnik 1983 (Moscow: Fizkultura i Sport, 1983), pp. 49–51: the text is paraphrased, not translated; figures are the original images.

Problem and method

Zero results occur at almost every meet; coping with stress depends on individual nervous-system traits, so coaches need to know each lifter's pre-competition and competition behaviour.
Method: stopwatch timing of intervals between warm-up and competition attempts, with observation of behaviour and lift quality.

Findings

Lifters go to the bar when they feel “psychophysiological readiness” — some at evenly lengthening intervals, others at erratic ones.
This rhythm of readiness strongly affects success (Figs. 1–8).
Typical interval: ~2 min (snatch), ~3 min (clean and jerk), lengthening attempt by attempt. Sharp swings signal insecurity (Figs. 1–3).

Fig. 1: intervals between warm-up and competition attempts, V. Alekseev, snatch — Figs. 1–8: interval before each attempt (t, min) against attempt number and weight (kg; reps below warm-up weights); solid line — warm-up, dashed — competition; struck-through weight — missed lift.
Fig. 1. V. Alekseev, snatch: warm-up 90–160 kg (160 missed), erratic intervals; attempts at 180 kg.

Fig. 2: intervals between attempts, V. Mazin, clean and jerk — Fig. 2. V. Mazin, clean and jerk: warm-up 90–150 kg; attempts 155–162.5 kg with 120 and 130 kg lifts between; erratic intervals.

Fig. 3: intervals between attempts, V. Khristov, clean and jerk — Fig. 3. V. Khristov, clean and jerk: warm-up 50–210 kg, peak of almost 7 min before 200 kg; attempts 220, 235, 235 kg.

Case studies

D. Rigert, snatch (Fig. 4): visibly tense, kept watching his rival R. Aleksandrov (Bulgaria) on the next platform. Intervals were normal, but he missed his last warm-up (160 kg) — very rare at this level, and ignored as a warning. He then failed 170 kg three times. Cause: form after his move to another class misjudged; opener set without regard to his individual pattern.
V. Alekseev, snatch (Fig. 1): arrived early, careless and unfocused; erratic intervals; missed 160 kg in warm-up yet opened at 180 kg (declared 175 kg) — with the well-known result. Not ready for this level.
Well-controlled rhythm and results: D. Núñez and Ya. Rusev (snatch), A. Zlatev and L. Taranenko (clean and jerk), Figs. 5–8.

Fig. 4: intervals between attempts, D. Rigert, snatch — Fig. 4. D. Rigert, snatch: warm-up 50–160 kg, evenly lengthening intervals, 160 missed; three attempts at 170 kg.

Fig. 5: intervals between attempts, D. Núñez, snatch — Fig. 5. D. Núñez, snatch: ten warm-ups 50–110 kg at steady 2–3 min; attempts 117.5, 122.5, 125 kg.

Fig. 6: intervals between attempts, Ya. Rusev, snatch — Fig. 6. Ya. Rusev, snatch: warm-up 80–135 kg; attempts 142.5, 147.5, 150 kg, with 110–135 kg lifts after the first.

Fig. 7: intervals between attempts, A. Zlatev, clean and jerk — Fig. 7. A. Zlatev, clean and jerk: warm-up 50–180 kg; attempts 190, 200, 205 kg (205 struck through), with 170 and 180 kg lifts after the first.

Fig. 8: intervals between attempts, L. Taranenko, clean and jerk — Fig. 8. L. Taranenko, clean and jerk: warm-up 70–210 kg, gradually lengthening intervals; attempts 220, 235, 240 kg.

Conclusion

Preparation for major meets must take into account each lifter's individual psychological behaviour under extreme physical and mental stress.