Evidence Strong | Weightlifting Science

Evidence Strong

The science of Olympic weightlifting and strength sports. Join expert conversations on the latest research and coaching trends. Each episode delivers actionable, science-driven tips for enhancing power and strength training. Want more? Check out extended episodes at https://www.patreon.com/collection/119238

  1. Does Menstrual Cycle Affect Elite Weightlifters? New Study with Paul Schatz

    3 DAYS AGO

    Does Menstrual Cycle Affect Elite Weightlifters? New Study with Paul Schatz

    🏋️‍♀️ Extended version of this interview: https://www.patreon.com/posts/menstrual-cycle-and-strength-154135570 🏋️‍♀️ Paul Schatz conducted a six-month study with elite German female weightlifters, measuring their menstrual cycle and strength performance. It's such an interesting study because, although the study sample is relatively small, the research methods are solid. Paul is a PhD student at the German Sports University investigating the influence of the menstrual cycle on performance in athletes. Enjoy! Original research paper: Schatz P, Ullrich F, Siegert F, Legerlotz K, Diel P, Isenmann E. Interactions between menstrual cycle, training load and strength performance in elite female weightlifters. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 2026 Jan 16. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1440244026000034 ❤️ Join Evidence Strong Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/evidencestrong ▶️ Watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9L-_m0WGD_7xV0sf87Zy7oMVDdtqR3bG 🖼️ Weightlifting research infographics: https://evidencestrong.com ✉️ Follow Paul Schatz: 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/fit_byscience 💪 Follow Evidence Strong: 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/evidence_strong 🔹 https://x.com/EvidenceStrong All the content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, nutritional, coaching, or financial advice, nor does it substitute for advice from your health care professional/provider. Any actions you will take, changes you will make to your nutrition, training or health care, are on your own responsibility and not mine.

    15 min
  2. How the Chinese Weightlifting System Builds Champions — with Manuel Buitrago

    14 APR

    How the Chinese Weightlifting System Builds Champions — with Manuel Buitrago

    🏋️‍♀️ Extended version of this interview: https://www.patreon.com/posts/chinese-weightlifting-154065858 🏋️‍♀️ This interview brings an insider look into the weightlifting system in China. Manuel Buitrago teaches weightlifting using the Chinese understanding of technique and progressions, and authored two books on the topic. Manuel Buitrago, PhD, is the founder and director of MaStrength, a global education brand dedicated to authentic Chinese weightlifting. Since launching MaStrength in 2014, he’s taught 100+ seminars worldwide and hosted a dozen weightlifting events at Chinese weightlifting bases. He has authored Chinese Weightlifting: A Visual Guide to Technique and Chinese Weightlifting: Technical Mastery & Training. Enjoy! ❤️ Join Evidence Strong Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/evidencestrong ▶️ Watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9L-_m0WGD_7xV0sf87Zy7oMVDdtqR3bG 🖼️ Weightlifting research infographics: https://evidencestrong.com ✉️ Follow Manuel Buitrago: 🔹 https://chineseweightlifting.com/ 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/mastrength 💪 Follow Evidence Strong: 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/evidence_strong 🔹 https://x.com/EvidenceStrong All the content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, nutritional, coaching, or financial advice, nor does it substitute for advice from your health care professional/provider. Any actions you will take, changes you will make to your nutrition, training or health care, are on your own responsibility and not mine.

    56 min
  3. Can Jump Tests Replace Squats? — with Mary Claire Geneau

    7 APR

    Can Jump Tests Replace Squats? — with Mary Claire Geneau

    🏋️‍♀️ Extended version of this interview: https://www.patreon.com/posts/154060814 🏋️‍♀️ Strength testing is gaining popularity in many sports nowadays. With wider availability in measurement technologies, strength testing is also becoming fast and easy. But the thing is, sometimes it is too much data to handle. You could be testing hundreds of tasks, but you probably shouldn't. Dr. Mary Claire Geneau compared back squat and jump tests (loaded and unloaded) to see if one can be eliminated but still deliver the information coaches need. Mary Claire (MC) is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the University of Victoria and Canadian Sport Institute-Pacific, and is a sport scientist with the Professional Women's Hockey League in Vancouver, BC. MC has over a decade of S&C and sport science experience, working with several Canadian national teams, including soccer, volleyball, rowing, freestyle skiing, field hockey, and triathlon. MC’s PhD research focused on the analytical and practical aspects of lower-body strength diagnosis using force platforms, and her current research focuses on leveraging wearable and microsensor technologies to quantify athlete load and performance. Enjoy! Original research paper(s): Geneau MC, Carey DL, Gastin PB, Robertson SJ, James LP. Relationships Between Loaded Countermovement Jumps and 1-RM Back Squat: A Discrete Metrics and Waveform Analysis. Biomechanics. 2026 Jan 1;6(1):3. https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7078/6/1/3 ❤️ Join Evidence Strong Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/evidencestrong ▶️ Watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9L-_m0WGD_7xV0sf87Zy7oMVDdtqR3bG 🖼️ Weightlifting research infographics: https://evidencestrong.com ✉️ Follow Mary Claire Geneau: 🔹 https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-claire-geneau-60a74b93/ 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/mcgeneau/ 🔹 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mary-Claire-Geneau 💪 Follow Evidence Strong: 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/evidence_strong 🔹 https://x.com/EvidenceStrong All the content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, nutritional, coaching, or financial advice, nor does it substitute for advice from your health care professional/provider. Any actions you will take, changes you will make to your nutrition, training or health care, are on your own responsibility and not mine.

    21 min
  4. How to Stay Focused Under Pressure – with Chris Mesagno

    31 MAR

    How to Stay Focused Under Pressure – with Chris Mesagno

    🏋️‍♀️ Extended version of this interview: https://www.patreon.com/posts/how-to-deal-with-153127993 🏋️‍♀️ Choking under pressure is one of the most frustrating experiences in sport, but it is not random. In this conversation, Chris Mesagno breaks down the psychology behind choking, the role of anxiety and perfectionism, and how to build strategies to reduce it. Christopher Mesagno is an Associate Professor in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia. With over 25 years of research expertise in anxiety, attention, and concentration skills, Christopher has successfully developed theory-matched interventions to improve performance for highly anxious and "choking-susceptible" athletes. Christopher maintains a robust academic research profile with 75+ research articles and book chapters, and has given various conference and keynote presentations at national and international conferences. Enjoy! Original research paper(s): - Gröpel, P., & Mesagno, C. (2019). Choking interventions in sports: A systematic review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 12(1), 176–201. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1750984X.2017.1408134 ❤️ Join Evidence Strong Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/evidencestrong ▶️ Watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9L-_m0WGD_7xV0sf87Zy7oMVDdtqR3bG 🖼️ Weightlifting research infographics: https://evidencestrong.com ✉️ Follow Chris Mesagno: 🔹 https://x.com/CMesagno 🔹 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher-Mesagno?ev=hdr_xprf 🔹 https://researchers.vu.edu.au/24494-christopher-mesagno 💪 Follow Evidence Strong: 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/evidence_strong 🔹 https://x.com/EvidenceStrong All the content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, nutritional, coaching, or financial advice, nor does it substitute for advice from your health care professional/provider. Any actions you will take, changes you will make to your nutrition, training or health care, are on your own responsibility and not mine.

    55 min
  5. Can Heavy Lifting Damage Your Eyes? – Feliciana Menna

    25 MAR

    Can Heavy Lifting Damage Your Eyes? – Feliciana Menna

    🏋️‍♀️ Extended version of this interview: https://www.patreon.com/posts/eye-health-and-152561923 🏋️‍♀️ There are very few health risks related to Olympic weightlifting when the training is reasonable. Are eye problems one of the issues that may develop? Feliciana Menna comes on the Evidence Strong Show to discuss her newest study on eye health in Olympic weightlifters. Feliciana Menna is an ophthalmologist and clinician-scientist with expertise in retinal diseases, glaucoma, and multimodal ocular imaging. She has trained and worked across Italy and Switzerland and is currently involved in both clinical practice and research. She has recently focused on the investigation of intraocular pressure variations, particularly in relation to physical activity and different sports disciplines, with relevant implications for glaucoma risk assessment. Enjoy! Original research paper(s): Menna F, De Luca L, Lupo S, Meduri A, Vingolo EM. Variations in Intraocular Pressure Among Athletes Across Different Sports Disciplines. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025 May 6;14(9):3211. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/14/9/3211 ❤️ Join Evidence Strong Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/evidencestrong ▶️ Watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9L-_m0WGD_7xV0sf87Zy7oMVDdtqR3bG 🖼️ Weightlifting research infographics: https://evidencestrong.com ✉️ Follow Feliciana Menna: 🔹 https://www.linkedin.com/in/feliciana-menna-226636197/ 🔹 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Feliciana-Menna/research 💪 Follow Evidence Strong: 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/evidence_strong 🔹 https://x.com/EvidenceStrong All the content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, nutritional, coaching, or financial advice, nor does it substitute for advice from your health care professional/provider. Any actions you will take, changes you will make to your nutrition, training or health care, are on your own responsibility and not mine.

    19 min
  6. Best Attempt Jumps for Squat, Bench & Deadlift (New Data) – with Ian Darragh

    18 MAR

    Best Attempt Jumps for Squat, Bench & Deadlift (New Data) – with Ian Darragh

    🏋️‍♀️ Extended version of this interview: https://www.patreon.com/posts/perfect-jumps-152354506 🏋️‍♀️ What is an optimal jump between the first and the second lift in the powerlifting competition? What is the best jump between the second and the third? Dr. Ian Darragh has analyzed 90 thousands of competition records to establish what the successful jumps should be between bench, squat, and deadlift attempts in competition. Ian Darragh holds a PhD in Exercise Physiology and has recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in data science and biostatistics. He is a former junior international weightlifter and has over 15 years of lifting and 10 years of coaching experience. He has an interest in physiology, performance, and health research. He currently works as a research fellow in orthopedics and sports medicine at the Geisinger Health System in northeast Pennsylvania. Enjoy! ❤️ Join Evidence Strong Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/evidencestrong ▶️ Watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9L-_m0WGD_7xV0sf87Zy7oMVDdtqR3bG 🖼️ Weightlifting research infographics: https://evidencestrong.com ✉️ Follow Ian Darragh: 🔹 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ian-Darragh 🔹 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-darragh-001287125/ 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/beanswole/ 💪 Follow Evidence Strong: 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/evidence_strong 🔹 https://x.com/EvidenceStrong All the content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, nutritional, coaching, or financial advice, nor does it substitute for advice from your health care professional/provider. Any actions you will take, changes you will make to your nutrition, training or health care, are on your own responsibility and not mine.

    39 min
  7. Why Lifters Break Under Pressure (And How to Fix It) – With Hilary Galvin

    11 MAR

    Why Lifters Break Under Pressure (And How to Fix It) – With Hilary Galvin

    🏋️‍♀️ Extended version of this interview: https://www.patreon.com/posts/underperforming-152008960 🏋️‍♀️ Have you ever heard of “choking”, when a lifter is unable to perform on the platform what should be an easy lift? Hilary Galvin devoted her undergraduate thesis to this phenomenon, researching choking in Irish weightlifters. Hilary Galvin is a personal trainer, weightlifting coach, and psychology graduate with nine years of experience in the sport as an athlete, fan, and technical official. A former nurse with ten years of clinical experience, Hilary recently transitioned into coaching and brings a strong background in health and psychology to her practice. She is passionate about helping lifters and everyday people improve their confidence, resilience, and performance through evidence-informed coaching. Enjoy! ❤️ Join Evidence Strong Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/evidencestrong ▶️ Watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9L-_m0WGD_7xV0sf87Zy7oMVDdtqR3bG 🖼️ Weightlifting research infographics: https://evidencestrong.com ✉️ Follow Hilary Galvin: 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/hilary.weightlifting 💪 Follow Evidence Strong: 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/evidence_strong 🔹 https://x.com/EvidenceStrong All the content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, nutritional, coaching, or financial advice, nor does it substitute for advice from your health care professional/provider. Any actions you will take, changes you will make to your nutrition, training or health care, are on your own responsibility and not mine.

    28 min
  8. How Overtraining Destroys Strength (And How to Prevent It) — with Andy Fry

    4 MAR

    How Overtraining Destroys Strength (And How to Prevent It) — with Andy Fry

    🏋️‍♀️ Extended version of this interview: https://www.patreon.com/posts/overtraining-for-151419281 🏋️‍♀️ Overtraining can be a serious problem for any athlete. In this conversation, Dr Andy Fry explains how coaches can monitor, detect, and prevent overtraining to protect athlete health and performance. After a long career in academia, including directing the Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory at the University of Kansas, Andy launched Fry Sports Performance, LLC. Drawing on his experience as a coach, teacher, and researcher, Fry Sports Performance focuses on helping athletes maximise their potential. Andy also served as Vice President of the National Strength & Conditioning Association and received the NSCA’s Boyd Epley Award for Lifetime Achievement. Enjoy! ❤️ Join Evidence Strong Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/evidencestrong ▶️ Watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9L-_m0WGD_7xV0sf87Zy7oMVDdtqR3bG 🖼️ Weightlifting research infographics: https://evidencestrong.com ✉️ Follow Andy Fry: 🔹 https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-fry-a3a21137a/ 🔹 Fry Sports Performance LLC | Athletic Performance 💪 Follow Evidence Strong: 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/evidence_strong 🔹 https://x.com/EvidenceStrong All the content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, nutritional, coaching, or financial advice, nor does it substitute for advice from your health care professional/provider. Any actions you will take, changes you will make to your nutrition, training or health care, are on your own responsibility and not mine.

    52 min
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The science of Olympic weightlifting and strength sports. Join expert conversations on the latest research and coaching trends. Each episode delivers actionable, science-driven tips for enhancing power and strength training. Want more? Check out extended episodes at https://www.patreon.com/collection/119238

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