A barbell comprising: a bar having a first end portion and a second end portion ; a first sleeve assembly comprising a first sleeve having a first axial bore with a first proximal bore portion , a first distal bore portion , and a first central bore portion extending between the first proximal bore portion and the first distal bore portion, wherein the first end portion of the bar is received through the first axial bore and extends through the first proximal bore portion and the first central bore portion to the first distal bore portion; a first proximal bushing received in the first proximal bore portion of the first sleeve and fixed against axial movement with respect to the first sleeve assembly, the first proximal bushing having a first axial passage receiving the bar therethrough, wherein the first proximal bushing has a first outer surface engaging the first sleeve and a first inner surface engaging the bar within the first axial passage; a first distal bushing received in the first distal bore portion of the first sleeve and fixed against axial movement with respect to the first sleeve assembly, the first distal bushing having a first cavity; and a first barrel fixed to the first end portion of the bar, the first barrel having a cylindrical outer shape and received within the first cavity of the first distal bushing, wherein the first barrel is both axially and rotationally fixed to the bar, wherein the first distal bushing has a second outer surface engaging the first sleeve and a second inner surface engaging the first barrel within the first cavity, wherein the first proximal bushing and the first distal bushing permit the first sleeve assembly to be freely rotatable around the bar and the first barrel, and wherein the first outer surface and the first inner surface, the second outer surface, and the second inner surface are polymer surfaces. a bar having a first end portion and a second end portion ; a first sleeve assembly comprising a first sleeve having a first axial bore with a first proximal bore portion , a first distal bore portion , and a first central bore portion extending between the first proximal bore portion and the first distal bore portion, wherein the first end portion of the bar is received through the first axial bore and extends through the first proximal bore portion and the first central bore portion to the first distal bore portion; a first proximal bushing received in the first proximal bore portion of the first sleeve and fixed against axial movement with respect to the first sleeve assembly, the first proximal bushing having a first axial passage receiving the bar therethrough, wherein the first proximal bushing has a first outer surface engaging the first sleeve and a first inner surface engaging the bar within the first axial passage; a first distal bushing received in the first distal bore portion of the first sleeve and fixed against axial movement with respect to the first sleeve assembly, the first distal bushing having a first cavity; and a first barrel fixed to the first end portion of the bar, the first barrel having a cylindrical outer shape and received within the first cavity of the first distal bushing, wherein the first barrel is both axially and rotationally fixed to the bar, wherein the first distal bushing has a second outer surface engaging the first sleeve and a second inner surface engaging the first barrel within the first cavity, wherein the first proximal bushing and the first distal bushing permit the first sleeve assembly to be freely rotatable around the bar and the first barrel, and wherein the first outer surface and the first inner surface, the second outer surface, and the second inner surface are polymer surfaces. <EOS>