Distinction

• The Olympic weight set is, as the name implies, the types of weights used by Olympic level athletes for training and competition. The Olympic bars are thicker and heavier than a standard set normally found in a home gym. The Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg (roughly 44 pounds) and is typically around 7 feet wide. A bar designed for women is slightly shorter, has a smaller grip and weighs around 33 pounds. The most notable difference in the Olympic set is the ends of the bar are encased in free-spinning sleeves. This allows the weight plates to rotate and spin independently of the bar. The weight plates of the Olympic set are distinct in that have larger holes in the center to accommodate the sleeve and can be color-coded by weight, allowing judges at weight lifting competitions to calculate the lifted weight at a glance.
  
  

Advantages

• One advantage of using an Olympic weight set over a standard set is that the Olympic set supports much heavier weights. This will allow a serious lifter to use the same bar as he progresses to lifting heavier weight. Another major advantage is the independently rotating sleeves. By allowing the plates to rotate freely on their own axis, the torque from the sleeves can't transfer into the bar, making the weights easier to control and helping to avoid abrasions the hands from the bar's grip.
  
  

Disadvantages

• The features that define the Olympic bar and provide its distinct advantages also contribute to its leading disadvantages. The increased length and size of the Olympic barbell requires a lot more room to use safely. This may make the set too big for a home gym with limited space. The increased weight of the bar alone also may make the weight more difficult to control for a beginning lifter who is unfamiliar with the movements.
  
  

Warning

• As with all exercises, working with Olympic weights carries of risk of injury. An existing medical condition or injury may become exacerbated when working with Olympic weights. Know your limits and never push yourself to the point of injury. When working with Olympic weights, especially a barbell, always have a spotter. Don't use an Olympic barbell with a bench that is designed for a home-gym set. The increased length of the Olympic set could cause instability and the increased weight potential may be beyond what the bench can support.