http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms...ights.html
By Jim Schmitz
U.S. Olympic Weightlifting Team Coach 1980, 1988 & 1992
Author of Olympic-style Weightlifting for Beginner & Intermediate Weightlifters Manual and DVD
Dropping Weights
I think the biggest reason Olympic-style weightlifting isn’t allowed in commercial gyms is that weightlifters are their own worst enemies sometimes because they drop their weights. I’m talking about successful lifts, not failures. Dropping weights isn’t necessary 80% of the time, maybe more. Dropping weights evolved as weightlifting became more popular around the world, especially in Eastern Europe, and more and more weight was being lifted, which was naturally more difficult to lower to the platform. As dropping weights became more accepted, something had to be done because the metal plates were tearing up platforms and destroying the flooring underneath. Someone invented rubber bumper plates around the middle to late sixties. They certainly have been a big plus in sparing damage to platforms and floors.
Now it seems that all lifters, from beginners to elite, think that dropping all weights, from warm-ups to maximums, is the way it should be done. This situation has perhaps evolved from watching the world championships and Olympic Games where lifters certainly drop weights, some from overhead even, and yet never have a lift disqualified as a result—even though the rules state clearly that you aren’t supposed to let go of the bar until it is at waist height. I think it’s unfortunate that this has been allowed to escalate to this level because now beginner and intermediate lifters think that is what is done in order to lift the big weights.
In my gym I am just amazed at some lifters who come in for a workout, and right off the bat they are dropping 40 kilos from overhead. Naturally, I tell them they can’t drop their weights in my facility, and after I explain to them how to lower weights under control, usually there aren’t any problems for them or me after that. However, I wonder, where do these people train where they can just drop the weights without regard to the equipment or their or others’ safety?