Weightlifting at the Rio 2016 Olympics: All you need to know

How does it work?

Competitors have three attempts to lift as much weight as they can in two types of lift: a snatch, where the barbell is lifted above the head in one go, and a clean and jerk, where it is lifted in two movements.

The winner is the athlete with the highest combined total of the two weights lifted.

Anything new for Rio 2016?

No. So, like at London 2012, there are eight weight categories for men, and seven for women.

Who are the British prospects?

Teenager Rebekah Tiler has shown some prodigious talent but Tokyo 2020 is her real target - she says to finish in the top eight in Rio would be "fantastic". Sonny Webster is Britain's only other competitor and his chances of a medal are also slim.

Who are the favourites?

With doping bans hanging over several London 2012 medallists and even entire teams, there could be some new faces on the podium in Rio.

Among the old guard, watch out for North Korean world champion Om Yun-chol, who lifted three times his own bodyweight to win 56kg gold at London 2012.

Chinese teenager Hou Zhihui could be one of the newcomers, having shown awesome strength in the 48kg division at the national championships in April.

I didn't know that...

Weightlifting provided Great Britain with its first Olympic gold medal: Launceston Elliot won the one-armed lift at the inaugural modern Games in Athens in 1896.

Previous British medallists

Seven (one gold, three silver, three bronze)

Most recent British gold

1896 - Launceston Elliot (one-handed lift)

Most recent British medal

1984 - David Mercer (bronze, middle heavyweight)

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