In
Olympic-style
weightlifting, a snatch is a difficult lift in which a
barbell is lifted from the floor to above the lifter's head in a single motion. The arms must be kept straight and locked throughout the entire lift, with any bend in the
elbows resulting in a disqualification.
When performing a successful snatch, the lifter will initially lift the barbell with a powerful movement of legs and shoulders, then quickly move his/her body downward once the bar has reached chest level. While difficult and requiring a great deal of coordination and quickness, this procedure nearly eliminates any effort used in actually lifting the weight further overhead. Once the weight is in the proper position relative to the lifter's body, the legs are straightened to a final, standing position.