03/31/2026
This will challenge a lot of traditional strength & conditioning thinking.
Olympic lifts have long been used to develop “power.”
But the real question is:
Do they actually improve tactical performance?
Tactical athletes don’t operate in controlled environments. They perform under load, under fatigue, and in unpredictable conditions that demand:
• Multi-directional movement
• Deceleration and control
• Repeated effort under stress
• Adaptability, not perfection
This position paper breaks down what Olympic lifts actually develop, where their transfer is limited, and what training methods better prepare tactical athletes for real-world demands.
Bottom line:
Olympic lifts build a narrow slice of power. Tactical performance requires far more.
Read the full paper:
https://www.mednetcolorado.com/tactical-athlete-conditioning.html