OlympicLifting
Learn the snatch and the clean and jerk from a USA Weightlifting certified coach, whether you're picking up a barbell for the first time or chasing a meet total.
The Snatch and the Clean & Jerk
Olympic weightlifting is the sport of the snatch and the clean and jerk. They're fast, powerful, technical lifts that build explosiveness, coordination, mobility, and strength like nothing else.
- Technique first: positions, balance, and timing before load
- Progressions: from PVC pipe to the barbell, step by step
- Strength work: squats, pulls, and presses that support your lifts
- Mobility: the positions you need to receive the bar safely
- Competition prep: programming and meet-day guidance for lifters who want to compete
For Beginners, Athletes, and Competitors
Olympic lifting is for anyone who wants to learn to move a barbell with speed and confidence.
- Youth and teen athletes who want more power for their sport
- High school and college athletes who want to learn the lifts the right way
- CrossFit athletes looking to clean up their technique
- Adults who want a fun, skill-based way to get strong
- Lifters preparing for their first meet or their next one
How a Lifting Session Works
Warm-Up & Mobility
We open up the hips, ankles, and shoulders so you can hit the positions the lifts need.
Technique Drills
Positions, pulls, and footwork with a PVC pipe or light bar, coached in detail.
Lift
Snatch and clean & jerk work at the right weight for the day, with feedback on every rep.
Strength
Squats, pulls, and accessories that build the base for bigger, safer lifts.
Three State Championships
At CrossFit Madtown, Coach Keysha built a weightlifting club that won Wisconsin State Championships in 2011, 2014, and 2015. She's grateful to every lifter who was part of those teams, and she's excited to keep building that community in the Madison area.
ExperiencedIn Your Corner
Coach Keysha McClenton has spent more than 20 years coaching athletes, and has been privileged to coach NCAA national champions and Olympic gold medalists. She holds a Master of Science in Kinesiology and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), USA Weightlifting certified, and CrossFit Level 2 certified.
From 2008 to 2025 she owned and coached at CrossFit Madtown, where her weightlifting club won Wisconsin State Championships in 2011, 2014 and 2015. She's grateful to every athlete she's been privileged to coach along the way, and today she brings that same care to every athlete who walks in, whether it's their first day lifting or their senior season.
Come RiseWith Us
Pick Up the Bar With Us. Your first session is free. Come learn the lifts from a coach who loves teaching them.
Book Your Free Session →