## 4 Discussion  
The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between the front and back squat foundation strength exercises, CMJ and DSJ force-time metrics, and snatch and clean and jerk performance in top-level weightlifters. Based upon the findings of this study, the front and back squat and CMJ and DSJ force-time metrics are closely associated with weightlifting performance during the snatch and clean and jerk in top-level weightlifters. Furthermore, a secondary objective was to determine the force-time metrics that were more strongly associated with weightlifting performance in top-level weightlifters. The findings were two-fold: (1) The CMJ and DSJ propulsive net impulse displayed the closest associations with weightlifting performance (r = 0.76-0.96) for male and female weightlifters. (2) Despite the strong associations between CMJ and DSJ height and weightlifting performance when all subjects were analysed together (r = 0.64-0.71), jump height may be seen as a less promising metric to monitor the neuromuscular capabilities of top-level weightlifters due to the lack of associations when males and females were analysed separately (r = -0.05-0.67). These findings may serve as a useful guidance to weightlifting coaches for selecting adequate tests and force-time metrics to assess the neuromuscular capabilities in top-level weightlifters. Maximum strength capacity, evaluated using the front and back squat 1 RMs, was nearly perfectly correlated with weightlifting performance (r = 0.98-0.99) (Figure 2), as hypothesized. Furthermore, the front and back squat 1 RMs were also closely associated with weightlifting performance when males (r = 0.92-0.94) and females (r = 0.84-0.98) were analysed separately (Table 2 and Figure 3). These results are in line with previous work on foundation strength exercises and their association with weightlifting performance [10; 11; 14]. For example, [PERSON] et al. [10], [PERSON] et al. [11], and [PERSON] et al. [14] reported that the front and back squat 1 RMs were significant (\(p<0.05\)) and nearly perfectly correlated with snatch and clean and jerk performance (r = 0.91-0.95). In contrast, [PERSON] et al. [13] found weaker correlations between the front squat and snatch and clean and jerk performance (r = 0.67-0.72). The researchers recruited a sample of 19 male weightlifters, although they were not top-level weightlifters, which may explain the weaker associations. In this study, the six male top-level weightlifters included had higher relative strength levels compared to  
Figure 5: Scatterplots with a linear regression analysis of the DSJ height, propulsive net impulse, and peak power force-time metrics for males and females separately. Black circles represent male weightlifters. Grey squares represent female weightlifters. DSJ, deep squat jump; R2, coefficient of determination; SEE, standard error of the estimate. Statistical significance is presented in **bold**. the data reported by [PERSON] et al. (2013) for the snatch (1.94 vs. 1.2 kg/kg, respectively), clean and jerk (2.2 vs. 1.5 kg/kg, respectively), and front squat (2.5 vs. 1.8 kg/kg, respectively). Collectively, these results reinforce that the maximum strength in foundation exercises such as the front and back squat is closely associated with weightlifting performance, especially in top-level weightlifters, independently of sex. In previous studies, the CMJ and squat jump height have frequently been correlated with weightlifting performance because of their ballistic nature, kinetic and kinematic similarities, and practicality to the strength and conditioning coach (2014; 2015; 2016; 2017). In 2009, [PERSON] et al. (2016) introduced a novel method for performing a squat jump test from a deep squat position (i.e., DSJ) in weightlifters.