How to Do the Olympic Squat

Intermediate · Barbell · Targets Quadriceps, Calves, Glutes, Hamstrings

Olympic Squat demonstration
💪 Quadriceps, Calves, Glutes, Hamstrings🏋️ Barbell📊 Intermediate🏷️ Olympic Weightlifting

How to perform it

  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

The Olympic Squat primarily targets your Quadriceps, with support from your Calves, Glutes, Hamstrings. You'll need barbell.

Make it count toward your goal

Random sets rarely move the needle. In NYUS, the Olympic Squat slots into a plan built for your goal — sets, reps and progression auto-suggested, logged in two taps, and folded into a weekly review that adapts what comes next.

More Quadriceps exercises

Train smarter