Olympic Squat

A upper legs exercise targeting the quadriceps, performed with barbell.

Olympic Squat demonstration
Olympic Squat — demonstration

Body part

Upper Legs

Equipment

Barbell

Target muscles

Quadriceps

Secondary muscles

Calves, Glutes, Hamstrings

How to do Olympic Squat

  1. Begin with a barbell supported on top of the traps. The chest should be up, and the head facing forward. Adopt a hip width stance with the feet turned out as needed.

  2. Descend by flexing the knees, refraining from moving the hips back as much as possible. This requires that the knees travel forward; ensure that they stay aligned with the feet. The goal is to keep the torso as upright as possible. Continue all the way down, keeping the weight on the front of the heel.

  3. At the moment the upper legs contact the lower, reverse the motion, driving the weight upward.

Muscles worked

Primary (target)

Quadriceps

Secondary

CalvesGlutesHamstrings

Related exercises

All upper legs exercises →

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