What Is A Sport Using Absolute Muscular Strength?

Absolute muscular strength -- the ability to move a limit weight for a single repetition -- gets tested in only a few sports. Weightlifting remains the oldest official sport that tests absolute strength, occurring in the 1896 Olympics. Strongman contests have their basis in traveling strength shows, and often feature limit lifts, including odd object lifts. Powerlifting became an official sport in the 1960s, with the first world championships occurring in York, Pennsylvania in 1964. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any strength training program.

Absolute Strength

Your absolute strength is your ability to move the most weight you can for a single repetition of an exercise. If you can do two or more reps, you are not testing your absolute strength. Performing a one-repetition maximum takes preparation, as not only must you strengthen your muscles, but your skeleton and connective tissue as well. Heavy lifting actually builds the strength of your support structure, as a world record holder in the squat had the strongest spine ever measured, according to a 2000 study in the "International Journal of Sports Medicine."

Weightlifting

Weightlifting requires that you compete in two lifts -- the snatch and the clean and jerk. The 1972 Olympics featured the clean and press, but this was the last year the press was contested. The snatch requires you to pull a weight from the ground to overhead in a single movement, although you can squat down to catch it. The clean and jerk requires you to pull a weight to your shoulders, then thrust it overhead while dipping down to catch it. Both lifts test the absolute strength of your legs and back, and many of the muscles of your upper body.

Powerlifting

Powerlifting tests the strength of your legs in the squat and the strength of your back in the deadlift. The bench press tests the pressing strength of your upper body. Like weightlifting, you get three attempts at each lift, squatting first, followed by bench pressing and deadlifting. Each lift must be performed in accordance with strict rules, such as squat depth, keeping your feet on the floor and hips on the bench during the bench press, and no re-bending of your knees on the deadlift.

Strongman

Strongman competitors perform a variety of odd lifts, such as carrying 440 lbs. stones over distance for time. Other event in strongman competition that test limit strength include the overhead press, often using a Flintstone barbell, where the weights are made out of oddly-shaped pieces of granite. The log press requires you to get a log to the top of both your shoulders then press it overhead for a single repetition. The squat and deadlift are often contested at strongman competitions.