Associations of Basal Hematological Parameters and Systemic Inflammatory Markers with Performance in Young Female Weightlifters

Introduction: Weightlifting is an Olympic sport that demands high levels of strength, power, and technical skill. Intensive training loads and maximal lifting can influence athletes’ hematological and inflammatory responses. However, the relationships between baseline hematological parameters, systemic inflammation, and performance in female weightlifters remain underexplored in the literature.Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the baseline hematological profiles and systemic inflammatory status of elite (EG) and sub-elite (SEG) female weightlifters in relation to weightlifting performance.Methods: Twenty-seven female athletes participated in the study (Age: 18.48 ± 1.72 years) and were categorized as EG (n = 14) or AEG (n = 13). Participants’ age, height, body weight, body mass index, training experience, and maximal snatch (MSn), clean & jerk (MC&J), and total lift (MTotal) performances were recorded. Performance values were adjusted for body weight using allometric scaling (ASn, ARC&J, ATotal). Baseline hematological parameters and systemic inflammatory markers were analyzed in relation to performance variables. Between-group comparisons were conducted using the Mann–Whitney U test, and correlations were assessed with Spearman’s rank coefficient.Results: No significant differences were observed between EG and SEG in age, height, body weight, BMI, or training experience (p > 0.05). The EG demonstrated significantly higher snatch (p = 0.011), clean & jerk (p = 0.004), and total lift performances (p = 0.005) compared to the AEG. In terms of allometrically scaled relative strength, the EG exhibited significantly superior clean & jerk and total lift performances (p < 0.05). Hematological and inflammatory parameters were largely similar between groups, although MONO% was higher in the EG than in the AEG (p = 0.046). In the EG, positive correlations were found between NEU% and NLR and allometrically scaled snatch performance (r = 0.631 and r = 0.565, respectively; p < 0.05), whereas no significant correlations were observed in the SEG.Conclusion: Elite female weightlifters are distinguished by their superior hematological profiles and higher strength performance, whereas elevated baseline inflammation in sub-elite athletes highlights the influence of training intensity and athlete level on hematological and inflammatory responses. These findings provide valuable guidance for performance management and training planning, offering important insights for coaches and sports professionals.