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Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: Hereford on August 11, 2008, 09:07:23 PM

Title: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Hereford on August 11, 2008, 09:07:23 PM
Why does the US never win? Are we a nation of weaklings?
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: chaos on August 11, 2008, 09:07:58 PM
Why does the US never win? Are we a nation of weaklings?
They have better steroids. :(
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: elite_lifter on August 11, 2008, 09:08:50 PM
Why does the US never win? Are we a nation of weaklings?
Why don't you get in there and show those weak mofo's whats up. ::)
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Hereford on August 11, 2008, 09:23:29 PM
Why don't you get in there and show those weak mofo's whats up. ::)


Never said I'd win any olympic contests. Just seems strange the #1 nation in everything would not be good in picking up heavy things.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: elite_lifter on August 11, 2008, 09:25:18 PM
Never said I'd win any olympic contests. Just seems strange the #1 nation in everything would not be good in picking up heavy things.
Judging by the Olympics we are not No.1 in everything.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: JOCKTHEGLIDE on August 11, 2008, 09:58:12 PM
last time I checked my friiiend,,,,steroids were illegal in states and legal in others  ::)
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: gib on August 11, 2008, 10:00:41 PM
As an Olympic weightlifter, I can give you the answer to this.

1 - the countries that do well in general have a larger pool of atheletes who train full time. In the US, weightlifting is not, in general is not treated as a "serious sport", a much smaller number of people compete.

2 - the countries that do well in general have better training methods. The typical US weightlifter, either trains once a day (often after a full day at work), and some national level competitors only train 3-4 times a week. The countries that do well in general have in general 1-2 training sessions per day, 5-6 time a week, and some even have 4-5 training sessions a day. Yes really -I know this for a fact - for the countries such as Bulgaria (unfortunately their whole team did not compete this year) each training session is very intense, and might last 20-45 mins. Eg morning session 9am 20 mins shrugs/high pulls. 12pm 30 mins half squat snatches, 3pm 30 mins jerks, 6pm, 45 mins heavy deep squat session.

3 - the countries that do well have really great coaches. They outdo the US in training technique, stretching/flexibility training, lift training, but also in using training related exercises, such as jumps, as well as recovery therapies such as massage/sauna etc.

4. the countries that do well in general have people who can really just eat, sleep, train, and recover. 100% focused on creating a body that will achieve record lifts.

5. the countries that do well in general actually select people who are suitable to be future stars at an early age. Body shape, bone density, speed, flexibility, explosiveness, strength etc, whereas for the US, there is much less of a national selection process.

6. the countries that do well in general have way more female competitors. In the US, its really still pretty rare for a women to be a weightlifter.

OK, and now finally a point on performance enhancement. Unfortunately (depending what view you take on this) the US is now pretty strict on drug testing, which makes it pretty hard for competitors to use substances in a way that gives them a significant benefit without getting caught.

Compare this to countries such as China, Greece, Iran, Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, India, etc, where athletes can take (or are given) what they need. They key substances for a weightlifter are, depending upon age, sex, and stage of development, testosterone, winstrol, and increasingly GH. (Other popular substances, are dbol and also deca, among others).

In the countries that do well in general, an athelete can, leading up to a major contest do a strength phase for half year test/gh, and then spend the next 3 months moving into a competition phases test/gh/win, and then the last 3 months in contest build up take gh, and come in "clean". This is pretty much how its done right now. The athletes can stay hidden away from testing by avoiding international contests, and meanwhile these countries send up an coming younger competitors to international contest who are clean, while their true stars are kept at home to aviod testing.

So, this is how its done, and why the US sux at weightlifting.

Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: chaos on August 11, 2008, 10:05:19 PM
As an Olympic weightlifter, I can give you the answer to this.

1 - the countries that do well in general have a larger pool of atheletes who train full time. In the US, weightlifting is not, in general is not treated as a "serious sport", a much smaller number of people compete.

2 - the countries that do well in general have better training methods. The typical US weightlifter, either trains once a day (often after a full day at work), and some national level competitors only train 3-4 times a week. The countries that do well in general have in general 1-2 training sessions per day, 5-6 time a week, and some even have 4-5 training sessions a day. Yes really -I know this for a fact - for the countries such as Bulgaria (unfortunately their whole team did not compete this year) each training session is very intense, and might last 20-45 mins. Eg morning session 9am 20 mins shrugs/high pulls. 12pm 30 mins half squat snatches, 3pm 30 mins jerks, 6pm, 45 mins heavy deep squat session.

3 - the countries that do well have really great coaches. They outdo the US in training technique, stretching/flexibility training, lift training, but also in using training related exercises, such as jumps, as well as recovery therapies such as massage/sauna etc.

4. the countries that do well in general have people who can really just eat, sleep, train, and recover. 100% focused on creating a body that will achieve record lifts.

5. the countries that do well in general actually select people who are suitable to be future stars at an early age. Body shape, bone density, speed, flexibility, explosiveness, strength etc, whereas for the US, there is much less of a national selection process.

6. the countries that do well in general have way more female competitors. In the US, its really still pretty rare for a women to be a weightlifter.

OK, and now finally a point on performance enhancement. Unfortunately (depending what view you take on this) the US is now pretty strict on drug testing, which makes it pretty hard for competitors to use substances in a way that gives them a significant benefit without getting caught.

Compare this to countries such as China, Greece, Iran, Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, India, etc, where athletes can take (or are given) what they need. They key substances for a weightlifter are, depending upon age, sex, and stage of development, testosterone, winstrol, and increasingly GH. (Other popular substances, are dbol and also deca, among others).

In the countries that do well in general, an athelete can, leading up to a major contest do a strength phase for half year test/gh, and then spend the next 3 months moving into a competition phases test/gh/win, and then the last 3 months in contest build up take gh, and come in "clean". This is pretty much how its done right now. The athletes can stay hidden away from testing by avoiding international contests, and meanwhile these countries send up an coming younger competitors to international contest who are clean, while their true stars are kept at home to aviod testing.

So, this is how its done, and why the US sux at weightlifting.


meltdown  ::)
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: PANDAEMONIUM on August 11, 2008, 10:09:36 PM
As an Olympic weightlifter, I can give you the answer to this.

1 - the countries that do well in general have a larger pool of atheletes who train full time. In the US, weightlifting is not, in general is not treated as a "serious sport", a much smaller number of people compete.

2 - the countries that do well in general have better training methods. The typical US weightlifter, either trains once a day (often after a full day at work), and some national level competitors only train 3-4 times a week. The countries that do well in general have in general 1-2 training sessions per day, 5-6 time a week, and some even have 4-5 training sessions a day. Yes really -I know this for a fact - for the countries such as Bulgaria (unfortunately their whole team did not compete this year) each training session is very intense, and might last 20-45 mins. Eg morning session 9am 20 mins shrugs/high pulls. 12pm 30 mins half squat snatches, 3pm 30 mins jerks, 6pm, 45 mins heavy deep squat session.

3 - the countries that do well have really great coaches. They outdo the US in training technique, stretching/flexibility training, lift training, but also in using training related exercises, such as jumps, as well as recovery therapies such as massage/sauna etc.

4. the countries that do well in general have people who can really just eat, sleep, train, and recover. 100% focused on creating a body that will achieve record lifts.

5. the countries that do well in general actually select people who are suitable to be future stars at an early age. Body shape, bone density, speed, flexibility, explosiveness, strength etc, whereas for the US, there is much less of a national selection process.

6. the countries that do well in general have way more female competitors. In the US, its really still pretty rare for a women to be a weightlifter.

OK, and now finally a point on performance enhancement. Unfortunately (depending what view you take on this) the US is now pretty strict on drug testing, which makes it pretty hard for competitors to use substances in a way that gives them a significant benefit without getting caught.

Compare this to countries such as China, Greece, Iran, Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, India, etc, where athletes can take (or are given) what they need. They key substances for a weightlifter are, depending upon age, sex, and stage of development, testosterone, winstrol, and increasingly GH. (Other popular substances, are dbol and also deca, among others).

In the countries that do well in general, an athelete can, leading up to a major contest do a strength phase for half year test/gh, and then spend the next 3 months moving into a competition phases test/gh/win, and then the last 3 months in contest build up take gh, and come in "clean". This is pretty much how its done right now. The athletes can stay hidden away from testing by avoiding international contests, and meanwhile these countries send up an coming younger competitors to international contest who are clean, while their true stars are kept at home to aviod testing.

So, this is how its done, and why the US sux at weightlifting.



So, you're an "olympic" weightlifter in what sense?  You do the C&J sometimes in the gym? ::)
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: JohnnyVegas on August 11, 2008, 10:09:43 PM
Judging by the Olympics we are not No.1 in everything.
I heard Elite Lifter is #1 in the pole smoking event???

Any truth to that Elite??
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: chaos on August 11, 2008, 10:11:39 PM
So, you're an "olympic" weightlifter in what sense?  You do the C&J sometimes in the gym? ::)
Did you read that shit or are you guessing? ;D
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: elite_lifter on August 11, 2008, 10:12:42 PM
I heard Elite Lifter is #1 in the pole smoking event???

Any truth to that Elite??
Hey FatAss the way you follow me around Everyone knows there are things. Get Lost DoughBoy!
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: JohnnyVegas on August 11, 2008, 10:13:58 PM
Hey FatAss the way you follow me around Everyone knows there are things. Get Lost DoughBoy!

Hey, just asking a simple question-why so bitchy tonight????
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: PANDAEMONIUM on August 11, 2008, 10:15:37 PM
Did you read that shit or are you guessing? ;D

honestly I didn't read past the first line ;D

Why...does he say he's an oly lifter?  Fucck I better delete my posts ;D ;D
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: youandme on August 11, 2008, 10:18:29 PM
As an Olympic weightlifter, I can give you the answer to this.

1 - the countries that do well in general have a larger pool of atheletes who train full time. In the US, weightlifting is not, in general is not treated as a "serious sport", a much smaller number of people compete.

2 - the countries that do well in general have better training methods. The typical US weightlifter, either trains once a day (often after a full day at work), and some national level competitors only train 3-4 times a week. The countries that do well in general have in general 1-2 training sessions per day, 5-6 time a week, and some even have 4-5 training sessions a day. Yes really -I know this for a fact - for the countries such as Bulgaria (unfortunately their whole team did not compete this year) each training session is very intense, and might last 20-45 mins. Eg morning session 9am 20 mins shrugs/high pulls. 12pm 30 mins half squat snatches, 3pm 30 mins jerks, 6pm, 45 mins heavy deep squat session.

3 - the countries that do well have really great coaches. They outdo the US in training technique, stretching/flexibility training, lift training, but also in using training related exercises, such as jumps, as well as recovery therapies such as massage/sauna etc.

4. the countries that do well in general have people who can really just eat, sleep, train, and recover. 100% focused on creating a body that will achieve record lifts.

5. the countries that do well in general actually select people who are suitable to be future stars at an early age. Body shape, bone density, speed, flexibility, explosiveness, strength etc, whereas for the US, there is much less of a national selection process.

6. the countries that do well in general have way more female competitors. In the US, its really still pretty rare for a women to be a weightlifter.

OK, and now finally a point on performance enhancement. Unfortunately (depending what view you take on this) the US is now pretty strict on drug testing, which makes it pretty hard for competitors to use substances in a way that gives them a significant benefit without getting caught.

Compare this to countries such as China, Greece, Iran, Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, India, etc, where athletes can take (or are given) what they need. They key substances for a weightlifter are, depending upon age, sex, and stage of development, testosterone, winstrol, and increasingly GH. (Other popular substances, are dbol and also deca, among others).

In the countries that do well in general, an athelete can, leading up to a major contest do a strength phase for half year test/gh, and then spend the next 3 months moving into a competition phases test/gh/win, and then the last 3 months in contest build up take gh, and come in "clean". This is pretty much how its done right now. The athletes can stay hidden away from testing by avoiding international contests, and meanwhile these countries send up an coming younger competitors to international contest who are clean, while their true stars are kept at home to aviod testing.

So, this is how its done, and why the US sux at weightlifting.



Good info.

I noticed alot of US athletes are not as muscular as many other countries namely China, in which their athletes appear to be not only muscular but conditioned.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: chaos on August 11, 2008, 10:18:32 PM
honestly I didn't read past the first line ;D

Why...does he say he's an oly lifter?  Fucck I better delete my posts ;D ;D
;D
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: gib on August 11, 2008, 10:22:10 PM
Guys - yes, to clarify, I am an Olympic weightlifter. The term "Olympic Weightlifting" refers to the sport of competitive weightlifting, as compared to guys who lift weights for body building, powerlifting, and strongman contests etc). I have competed at national, and international events, but am not at this year's Olympics (or maybe I am there in some capacity, but in any case let me clarify that I am not competing in this years Olympics.).

I love the sport, and can answer any questions you guys have.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: PANDAEMONIUM on August 11, 2008, 10:24:17 PM
Guys - yes, to clarify, I am an Olympic weightlifter. The term "Olympic Weightlifting" refers to the sport of competitive weightlifting, as compared to guys who lift weights for body building, powerlifting, and strongman contests etc). I have competed at national, and international events, but am not at this year's Olympics (or maybe I am there in some capacity, but in any case let me clarify that I am not competing in this years Olympics.).

I love the sport, and can answer any questions you guys have.

 ::)
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: cross-of-iron on August 11, 2008, 10:33:14 PM
As an Olympic weightlifter, I can give you the answer to this.

1 - the countries that do well in general have a larger pool of atheletes who train full time. In the US, weightlifting is not, in general is not treated as a "serious sport", a much smaller number of people compete.

2 - the countries that do well in general have better training methods. The typical US weightlifter, either trains once a day (often after a full day at work), and some national level competitors only train 3-4 times a week. The countries that do well in general have in general 1-2 training sessions per day, 5-6 time a week, and some even have 4-5 training sessions a day. Yes really -I know this for a fact - for the countries such as Bulgaria (unfortunately their whole team did not compete this year) each training session is very intense, and might last 20-45 mins. Eg morning session 9am 20 mins shrugs/high pulls. 12pm 30 mins half squat snatches, 3pm 30 mins jerks, 6pm, 45 mins heavy deep squat session.

3 - the countries that do well have really great coaches. They outdo the US in training technique, stretching/flexibility training, lift training, but also in using training related exercises, such as jumps, as well as recovery therapies such as massage/sauna etc.

4. the countries that do well in general have people who can really just eat, sleep, train, and recover. 100% focused on creating a body that will achieve record lifts.

5. the countries that do well in general actually select people who are suitable to be future stars at an early age. Body shape, bone density, speed, flexibility, explosiveness, strength etc, whereas for the US, there is much less of a national selection process.

6. the countries that do well in general have way more female competitors. In the US, its really still pretty rare for a women to be a weightlifter.

OK, and now finally a point on performance enhancement. Unfortunately (depending what view you take on this) the US is now pretty strict on drug testing, which makes it pretty hard for competitors to use substances in a way that gives them a significant benefit without getting caught.

Compare this to countries such as China, Greece, Iran, Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, India, etc, where athletes can take (or are given) what they need. They key substances for a weightlifter are, depending upon age, sex, and stage of development, testosterone, winstrol, and increasingly GH. (Other popular substances, are dbol and also deca, among others).

In the countries that do well in general, an athelete can, leading up to a major contest do a strength phase for half year test/gh, and then spend the next 3 months moving into a competition phases test/gh/win, and then the last 3 months in contest build up take gh, and come in "clean". This is pretty much how its done right now. The athletes can stay hidden away from testing by avoiding international contests, and meanwhile these countries send up an coming younger competitors to international contest who are clean, while their true stars are kept at home to aviod testing.

So, this is how its done, and why the US sux at weightlifting.



He's pretty much spot on. What answer are you guys looking for? It's no secret that eastern training has always been
better than ours. As far as drugs go we are no more innocent than anybody else.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: honest on August 11, 2008, 10:33:38 PM
As an Olympic weightlifter, I can give you the answer to this.

1 - the countries that do well in general have a larger pool of atheletes who train full time. In the US, weightlifting is not, in general is not treated as a "serious sport", a much smaller number of people compete.

2 - the countries that do well in general have better training methods. The typical US weightlifter, either trains once a day (often after a full day at work), and some national level competitors only train 3-4 times a week. The countries that do well in general have in general 1-2 training sessions per day, 5-6 time a week, and some even have 4-5 training sessions a day. Yes really -I know this for a fact - for the countries such as Bulgaria (unfortunately their whole team did not compete this year) each training session is very intense, and might last 20-45 mins. Eg morning session 9am 20 mins shrugs/high pulls. 12pm 30 mins half squat snatches, 3pm 30 mins jerks, 6pm, 45 mins heavy deep squat session.

3 - the countries that do well have really great coaches. They outdo the US in training technique, stretching/flexibility training, lift training, but also in using training related exercises, such as jumps, as well as recovery therapies such as massage/sauna etc.

4. the countries that do well in general have people who can really just eat, sleep, train, and recover. 100% focused on creating a body that will achieve record lifts.

5. the countries that do well in general actually select people who are suitable to be future stars at an early age. Body shape, bone density, speed, flexibility, explosiveness, strength etc, whereas for the US, there is much less of a national selection process.

6. the countries that do well in general have way more female competitors. In the US, its really still pretty rare for a women to be a weightlifter.

OK, and now finally a point on performance enhancement. Unfortunately (depending what view you take on this) the US is now pretty strict on drug testing, which makes it pretty hard for competitors to use substances in a way that gives them a significant benefit without getting caught.

Compare this to countries such as China, Greece, Iran, Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, India, etc, where athletes can take (or are given) what they need. They key substances for a weightlifter are, depending upon age, sex, and stage of development, testosterone, winstrol, and increasingly GH. (Other popular substances, are dbol and also deca, among others).

In the countries that do well in general, an athelete can, leading up to a major contest do a strength phase for half year test/gh, and then spend the next 3 months moving into a competition phases test/gh/win, and then the last 3 months in contest build up take gh, and come in "clean". This is pretty much how its done right now. The athletes can stay hidden away from testing by avoiding international contests, and meanwhile these countries send up an coming younger competitors to international contest who are clean, while their true stars are kept at home to aviod testing.

So, this is how its done, and why the US sux at weightlifting.



good post, makes a lot of sense, what sort of dosages do thees guys do, for instance how much test and gh during the strength phase.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Hereford on August 11, 2008, 11:01:10 PM
Guys - yes, to clarify, I am an Olympic weightlifter. The term "Olympic Weightlifting" refers to the sport of competitive weightlifting, as compared to guys who lift weights for body building, powerlifting, and strongman contests etc). I have competed at national, and international events, but am not at this year's Olympics (or maybe I am there in some capacity, but in any case let me clarify that I am not competing in this years Olympics.).

I love the sport, and can answer any questions you guys have.

So how come we can't do that here?
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: PANDAEMONIUM on August 11, 2008, 11:02:12 PM
So how come we can't do that here?

The better question is, why doesn't this stud post his real name and real meet lifts if he's gonna make claims like this about himself?
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: gib on August 11, 2008, 11:21:08 PM
Pandaemonium - its pretty obvious isn't it? If you are an athlete making claims about substances and who takes what in a sport where there is a higher than ever pressure to compete clean, you wold have to be pretty brave to name "out" yourself, especially when you and your close friends are all still competing. This can be done in by the guys in pro bodybuilding, but its a very different story for any Olympic sport.

In terms of my personal best lifts, well I can tell you, but firstly you would probably not believe it (especially if you are a a bodybuilder and not a lifter the lifts would sound unbelievable), but in any case, without a name, it could always be suggested that I am making the lifts up anyhow. I can tell you that there are some big body builders where I train, who are amazed pretty much on a daily basis with what we lift. Eg you might get a bodybuilder doing partial squat reps on 120-140kg, thinking this is heavy, whereas us lifters are doing deep squats of 180kg upwards for reps (some guys going over as 250kg for reps).

To Honest, who asked about dosages, I cannot of course speak for everyone, but in general, I would have to say that the dosages are honestly less that what bodybuilder takes. Its pretty amazing what a combo of test/winstrol and/or GH can do, even at pretty moderate dosages, when combined with real heavy intense training. 

In terms of massive dosages, I can honestly say that of the people I know who have done massive dosages, they tend to be either bodybuilders, or your typical bloated up and bulky powerlifters and the guys who sometimes work part-time as bouncers and have a combo of fat/bulk and muscle. The lifters tend to be pretty sensible, both because they want to keep their gains at the time they compete, and also because its not just about pure size, rather its all about size to weight ratio. So, for me for example, I have moved up more than 15kg in weight since I started, but now I try to keep with my weightclass, as moving another class in terms of weight puts me in a whole new category of guys who can lift more and with higher world and national records etc.

For females, on the whole the dosages again are sensible. Moderate to low use of Winstrol and test. I am certain way less than female bodybuilders and powerlifters.




Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: PANDAEMONIUM on August 11, 2008, 11:29:55 PM
Pandaemonium - its pretty obvious isn't it? If you are an athlete making claims about substances and who takes what in a sport where there is a higher than ever pressure to compete clean, you wold have to be pretty brave to name "out" yourself, especially when you and your close friends are all still competing. This can be done in by the guys in pro bodybuilding, but its a very different story for any Olympic sport.

In terms of my personal best lifts, well I can tell you, but firstly you would probably not believe it (especially if you are a a bodybuilder and not a lifter the lifts would sound unbelievable), but in any case, without a name, it could always be suggested that I am making the lifts up anyhow. I can tell you that there are some big body builders where I train, who are amazed pretty much on a daily basis with what we lift. Eg you might get a bodybuilder doing partial squat reps on 120-140kg, thinking this is heavy, whereas us lifters are doing deep squats of 180kg upwards for reps (some guys going over as 250kg for reps).


Cool, tell us what your PRs are.  I'm not a scientific oly lifter like yourself, but I have put up some fairly decent "gym" numbers in the clean.  I'd be curious to hear what yours are.  I'll be the first in line to e-shake your hand if you're legit.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: gib on August 12, 2008, 12:04:12 AM
Well, first of all, I have a lot of respect for any athlete who incorporates Olympic lifts into their training. Its very common for other athletes to do, so, where I train, we also get hammer and discuss throwers, and shot putters doing some pretty big weights, and also sprinters doing cleans, pulls, and squats, and snatches, so we all know each other pretty well. We also get the occasional body builder who sometimes moves across to hang out with us a bit, and starts doing a bit of training with us (and we are happy to help, although we do jokingly give then a hard time, calling them "mirror boys").

I compete in 94kg category.

Best snatch is 162.5 kg
Best clean and jerk is 195kg.

I can actually clean 220kg, but my jerk is the problem (my legs and back are way stronger than my arms it seems).

To give you feel, the WR for snatch in my class is 188kg, and I honetly think it is theoretically possible I could get close to that one day. My weekness is the C&J, and my immediate aim is just to crack 200kg.

For shrugs, I go as high as 250kg in training. Same with squats (although I can squat more than that). I bench only very rarely, and my benches are not great compared to a powerlifter (I do up reps of 10 up to 140kg pretty easily) and I don't focus too much on that as we believe too much benching will cause tightness in our shoulders and affect flexibility.

For top field athletes, I have seen them do some pretty big cleans (up to 160kg), shrugs (over 200kg) and squats 180kg. The track guys of course go a lot lighter.

For a bodybuilder, I generally see them do cleans with much lighter weights 80-100kg. And there is nothing at all wrong with that!. For them, my key suggestion is to focus on their technique (some have pretty terrible technique) firstly to avoid injury, and secondly because their aim is to build size rather then strength. Also, they tend to be much less flexible than weightlifters. At our gym there is a huge focus on technique, so any bodybuilder wanting to use our weightlifting equipment tends to get real good help from us on his form.

I started at age 14, with, literally, a stick, with a focus on speed and technique, then moved up to a 10 kg bar, and then onto a proper 20kg bar, and up from there onwards....





Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Michaeloz on August 12, 2008, 12:42:00 AM
As an Olympic weightlifter, I can give you the answer to this.

1 - the countries that do well in general have a larger pool of atheletes who train full time. In the US, weightlifting is not, in general is not treated as a "serious sport", a much smaller number of people compete.

2 - the countries that do well in general have better training methods. The typical US weightlifter, either trains once a day (often after a full day at work), and some national level competitors only train 3-4 times a week. The countries that do well in general have in general 1-2 training sessions per day, 5-6 time a week, and some even have 4-5 training sessions a day. Yes really -I know this for a fact - for the countries such as Bulgaria (unfortunately their whole team did not compete this year) each training session is very intense, and might last 20-45 mins. Eg morning session 9am 20 mins shrugs/high pulls. 12pm 30 mins half squat snatches, 3pm 30 mins jerks, 6pm, 45 mins heavy deep squat session.

3 - the countries that do well have really great coaches. They outdo the US in training technique, stretching/flexibility training, lift training, but also in using training related exercises, such as jumps, as well as recovery therapies such as massage/sauna etc.

4. the countries that do well in general have people who can really just eat, sleep, train, and recover. 100% focused on creating a body that will achieve record lifts.

5. the countries that do well in general actually select people who are suitable to be future stars at an early age. Body shape, bone density, speed, flexibility, explosiveness, strength etc, whereas for the US, there is much less of a national selection process.

6. the countries that do well in general have way more female competitors. In the US, its really still pretty rare for a women to be a weightlifter.

OK, and now finally a point on performance enhancement. Unfortunately (depending what view you take on this) the US is now pretty strict on drug testing, which makes it pretty hard for competitors to use substances in a way that gives them a significant benefit without getting caught.

Compare this to countries such as China, Greece, Iran, Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, India, etc, where athletes can take (or are given) what they need. They key substances for a weightlifter are, depending upon age, sex, and stage of development, testosterone, winstrol, and increasingly GH. (Other popular substances, are dbol and also deca, among others).

In the countries that do well in general, an athelete can, leading up to a major contest do a strength phase for half year test/gh, and then spend the next 3 months moving into a competition phases test/gh/win, and then the last 3 months in contest build up take gh, and come in "clean". This is pretty much how its done right now. The athletes can stay hidden away from testing by avoiding international contests, and meanwhile these countries send up an coming younger competitors to international contest who are clean, while their true stars are kept at home to aviod testing.

So, this is how its done, and why the US sux at weightlifting.


Excellent post.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Method101 on August 12, 2008, 01:14:49 AM
I can tell you that there are some big body builders where I train, who are amazed pretty much on a daily basis with what we lift. Eg you might get a bodybuilder doing partial squat reps on 120-140kg, thinking this is heavy, whereas us lifters are doing deep squats of 180kg upwards for reps (some guys going over as 250kg for reps).
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: gib on August 12, 2008, 01:58:07 AM
Yep - I've seem that vid. Pretty impresive, and he is doing REAL squats. How many bodybuilders squat like that these days? (Actually I think that's a more impressive vid then Ronnie all strapped up doing partial squats with a bigger weight).

Usually, my squats after warming up, are in the 3-5 rep range.

The vid reminds me of time, a bodybuilder suggested to me that we blast my legs "bodybuilding style". We started with with 180kg, full squats for as many reps as I could could do (approx 15 reps), then with a 10 sec break as he pulled off two plates making the weight 140 (another 15 reps), then down to 100, then 60kg until exhaustion. Man talk about a pump! That workout left my legs sore for days! (but sore in a good way if you know what I mean)
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: closeline on August 12, 2008, 03:31:35 AM
reasons:

1) Olympic lifting is not all drugs, good technique is required. US-Kids, as are ruthless to their body regarding juicing to the max, but they are in most cases not smart enough to learn the techniqe. So they  go into Powerlifting, Strongman or if not junkfood addicts into Bodybuilding

2) Weightlifting requires a robust body, big and strong joints, short legs and arms, so US can t use their Black fallas as in athletics. White americans for the most part are considered nothing but fat and lazy. How many whites represent US in basketball, athletics ?

3) Expensive EPO, stupid endless training and total dedication to the most boring sports dosen t help in lifting. (Ask Phelps the swimmer)

Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Red Hook on August 12, 2008, 05:06:31 AM
Because Nike doesn't give out endorsement deals and because it is not on NBC every weekend in prime time.

All of that translates into the best athletes playing basketball/baseball/football.

Another example of this is boxing, during the 50,60,70 and the early 80s boxing was the dominant sport in the states. So all of the better athletes gravitated towards it thus producing a better product. Today boxing is not what it use to be partly because that 6'3" 245lb geneticly superior person is now playing middle line backer for some NFL team.



Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Red Hook on August 12, 2008, 05:12:18 AM
think about it, Ronnie coleman came to BB after football same for Branch et al. Think of how many of potential weightlifting world champions that are in the college and NFL that won't even think about the sport.  Usually the best athletes follow the money and endorsements..and rightfully so.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: MONSTER_TRICEPS on August 13, 2008, 12:44:02 AM


I compete in 94kg category.

Best snatch is 162.5 kg
Best clean and jerk is 195kg.

Sick.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Cardfan on August 13, 2008, 12:59:24 AM
Plain and simple...no glory. Love the sport, but it's got the appeal of badminton.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: gib on August 13, 2008, 01:25:22 AM
Monster Triceps - what is even sicker is that there are numerous guys in my category who can do more than me! Especially in the C&J there are guys I know for sure doing 230kg+, and of course then there all those gym rumors we hear from the wieghtlifting gossip chain, about guys in Bulgaria doing 240kg+, or whatever training, that are unverified, but quite possibly true (although this may actually be done by guys in the 94kg category, who are infact weighing 98-100kg off season in training, and who are clearly juiced up and not tested at the time.

Lets see what the winning lifts are in this year's Olympics. I predict Snatch 190, C&J 240.

I honestly have the training willpower, but at a really high level having the ideal physical structure makes a big difference that seperates the true champs for the almost champs. I have a long back, which seems to give me great leverage for pulling up the bar (so my snatch is strong, as are my cleans). But for a range of reasons, my jerk is simply my biggest weakpoint. Its very very frustrating being able to pretty easily clean a really impressive weight only to know I cannot jerk it.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: MONSTER_TRICEPS on August 13, 2008, 01:32:59 AM
Monster Triceps - what is even sicker is that there are numerous guys in my category who can do more than me! Especially in the C&J there are guys I know for sure doing 230kg+, and of course then there all those gym rumors we hear from the wieghtlifting gossip chain, about guys in Bulgaria doing 240kg+, or whatever training, that are unverified, but quite possibly true (although this may actually be done by guys in the 94kg category, who are infact weighing 98-100kg off season in training, and who are clearly juiced up and not tested at the time.

Lets see what the winning lifts are in this year's Olympics. I predict Snatch 190, C&J 240.

I honestly have the training willpower, but at a really high level having the ideal physical structure makes a big difference that seperates the true champs for the almost champs. I have a long back, which seems to give me great leverage for pulling up the bar (so my snatch is strong, as are my cleans). But for a range of reasons, my jerk is simply my biggest weakpoint. Its very very frustrating being able to pretty easily clean a really impressive weight only to know I cannot jerk it.

Cool man, I do snatches and c&j's too as assistance for my shot putting, but I'm not nearly as strong as you, goddamn man.

190-240 in the SHW class?

I think it will be more like 205-255. Too bad reza isn't competing.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: BIG ACH on August 13, 2008, 03:01:21 AM

Gib, this was a really insightful posts man.  Very interesting information, thanks for sharing.

You should post up some videos if you can from your lifts, would love to see them!
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Bluto on August 13, 2008, 03:22:24 AM
Good posts.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: gib on August 13, 2008, 03:46:23 AM
I have hundreds of vids of my lifts. Just like other athletes, we go over them in slow motion, analyzing techniques. Its really helpful to do, and you can then spot errors that need improving. Eg, not pulling up evenly, jumping back too much etc. I am not too post any of me up for all to see though.

Monster Triceps - yes, I agree, for the SHW class, yes, the lifts will be higher, and around the figures you have suggested. Thank God I don't compete with those guys! (although the actual lifting standard is actually much higher in the lower weight classes).

I would have loved to see Reza compete. God only knows the true reason why he is not there. One can only suspect of course, but the "official reason" is that he is suffering from some injuries and not at his peak form. Now this guy in training, front squats 300+kg with ease.  Increadibly strong and for a guy of his size, also has good flexibilty.

What sort of weights are you doing? For the shotputters and hammer throwers in our gym, some of the really top ranked guys I have seen doing cleans in the 140-160kg range, shrugs/deadlifts (over 200kg) and squats in the 180kg+ range. With the cleans especially, they put a huge emphasis on speed and expolosiveness, and they typically do not do deep squats when they clean (rather they do what we call a "power-clean" which involves only a partial squat). We train pretty well together with them, although they of couse spend less time in the gym than we do, although ocassionally we have a bit of a fight over the equipment and platforms, which at peak times the weightlifters consider belongs to us!.

Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Fury on August 13, 2008, 03:48:30 AM
The athletes capable of dominating the weightlifting events for the US are too busy making millions of dollars playing professional sports.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: SweetMuscles on August 13, 2008, 03:55:12 AM
Because we are a nation of pussies and cosseted f.aggots who have become spoilt and lazy.
we can only win stuff if the odds are heavily in our favor and even then we often fuck it up. we are weak fuckers and our strength is only in our numbers. numbers largely swelled by inferior beings.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: MONSTER_TRICEPS on August 13, 2008, 04:13:09 AM
I have hundreds of vids of my lifts. Just like other athletes, we go over them in slow motion, analyzing techniques. Its really helpful to do, and you can then spot errors that need improving. Eg, not pulling up evenly, jumping back too much etc. I am not too post any of me up for all to see though.

Monster Triceps - yes, I agree, for the SHW class, yes, the lifts will be higher, and around the figures you have suggested. Thank God I don't compete with those guys! (although the actual lifting standard is actually much higher in the lower weight classes).

I would have loved to see Reza compete. God only knows the true reason why he is not there. One can only suspect of course, but the "official reason" is that he is suffering from some injuries and not at his peak form. Now this guy in training, front squats 300+kg with ease.  Increadibly strong and for a guy of his size, also has good flexibilty.

What sort of weights are you doing? For the shotputters and hammer throwers in our gym, some of the really top ranked guys I have seen doing cleans in the 140-160kg range, shrugs/deadlifts (over 200kg) and squats in the 180kg+ range. With the cleans especially, they put a huge emphasis on speed and expolosiveness, and they typically do not do deep squats when they clean (rather they do what we call a "power-clean" which involves only a partial squat). We train pretty well together with them, although they of couse spend less time in the gym than we do, although ocassionally we have a bit of a fight over the equipment and platforms, which at peak times the weightlifters consider belongs to us!.



I do 110-120kg powercleans(I also do squatcleans sometimes), 190kg full backsquat, 220-230 deadlift, but i've heard of shotputters cleaning 200, benching 250, squatting 300 etc.

Always room for improvement.  ;D

Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: gib on August 13, 2008, 04:20:42 AM
Those are all decent lifts, in the range of what I see the top shot put and hammer guys doing.

So, hows your shotput. What's your best throw?
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: MAXX on August 13, 2008, 04:21:31 AM
cool to have an olympic weightlifter on the board.

would be cool to see some of your lifts on video gib. got some youtube vids?
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: MONSTER_TRICEPS on August 13, 2008, 04:30:50 AM
Those are all decent lifts, in the range of what I see the top shot put and hammer guys doing.

So, hows your shotput. What's your best throw?

Too embarassed to say, I've seen guys who barely bench 200 pounds who own me at shot putting.
My technique sucks really bad.

But I hope to get 15+ meters in the future, I'm 19 now so I still have a lot of time left to improve.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Moosejay on August 13, 2008, 05:49:27 AM
Never said I'd win any olympic contests. Just seems strange the #1 nation in everything would not be good in picking up heavy things.

No.

We have the less intelligent countries lift the heavy stuff. We are too genteel to otherwise sully our palms
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Moosejay on August 13, 2008, 05:50:45 AM
Too embarassed to say, I've seen guys who barely bench 200 pounds who own me at shot putting.
My technique sucks really bad.

But I hope to get 15+ meters in the future, I'm 19 now so I still have a lot of time left to improve.


I had my hs record of 46 feet as a senior...I wasn't the strongest, it was more technique, for me, anyhow
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: BM OUT on August 13, 2008, 06:13:18 AM
As an Olympic weightlifter, I can give you the answer to this.

1 - the countries that do well in general have a larger pool of athletes who train full time. In the US, weightlifting is not, in general is not treated as a "serious sport", a much smaller number of people compete.

2 - the countries that do well in general have better training methods. The typical US weightlifter, either trains once a day (often after a full day at work), and some national level competitors only train 3-4 times a week. The countries that do well in general have in general 1-2 training sessions per day, 5-6 time a week, and some even have 4-5 training sessions a day. Yes really -I know this for a fact - for the countries such as Bulgaria (unfortunately their whole team did not compete this year) each training session is very intense, and might last 20-45 mins. Eg morning session 9am 20 mins shrugs/high pulls. 12pm 30 mins half squat snatches, 3pm 30 mins jerks, 6pm, 45 mins heavy deep squat session.

3 - the countries that do well have really great coaches. They outdo the US in training technique, stretching/flexibility training, lift training, but also in using training related exercises, such as jumps, as well as recovery therapies such as massage/sauna etc.

4. the countries that do well in general have people who can really just eat, sleep, train, and recover. 100% focused on creating a body that will achieve record lifts.

5. the countries that do well in general actually select people who are suitable to be future stars at an early age. Body shape, bone density, speed, flexibility, explosiveness, strength etc, whereas for the US, there is much less of a national selection process.

6. the countries that do well in general have way more female competitors. In the US, its really still pretty rare for a women to be a weightlifter.

OK, and now finally a point on performance enhancement. Unfortunately (depending what view you take on this) the US is now pretty strict on drug testing, which makes it pretty hard for competitors to use substances in a way that gives them a significant benefit without getting caught.

Compare this to countries such as China, Greece, Iran, Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, India, etc, where athletes can take (or are given) what they need. They key substances for a weightlifter are, depending upon age, sex, and stage of development, testosterone, winstrol, and increasingly GH. (Other popular substances, are dbol and also deca, among others).

In the countries that do well in general, an athelete can, leading up to a major contest do a strength phase for half year test/gh, and then spend the next 3 months moving into a competition phases test/gh/win, and then the last 3 months in contest build up take gh, and come in "clean". This is pretty much how its done right now. The athletes can stay hidden away from testing by avoiding international contests, and meanwhile these countries send up an coming younger competitors to international contest who are clean, while their true stars are kept at home to aviod testing.

So, this is how its done, and why the US sux at weightlifting.




Do you also think that the learning curve is really hard in Olympic lifting.It takes tons of skill to perform the lifts and they are very difficult to learn.Plus ,so many Americans are benching from day one that they loose the flexibility in their shoulders to then learn Olympic lifting becomes impossible.I also agree that our strongest,best athletes go into football and then start lifting for football.In other countries,if your strong,you lift.Here,if your strong or large,you play football.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: m8 on August 13, 2008, 06:15:54 AM
That's why:

(http://l.yimg.com/news.aunz.yimg.com/xp/afp/20080813/17/1730145267.jpg)
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: gib on August 13, 2008, 08:12:32 AM
"Do you also think that the learning curve is really hard in Olympic lifting.It takes tons of skill to perform the lifts and they are very difficult to learn.Plus ,so many Americans are benching from day one that they loose the flexibility in their shoulders to then learn Olympic lifting becomes impossible.I also agree that our strongest,best athletes go into football and then start lifting for football.In other countries,if your strong,you lift.Here,if your strong or large,you play football."

I think ideally for a lifter, you should start before 12. I started at 13. The top countries start their people at 5 or 6. That does not mean that at 5 or 6 they are doing actual lifts. Rather, they spend 2-3 years doing a combination of jumping, stretching, gymnastics, and things like throwing medicine balls, and doing things like burpies (kind of a squat, pressup, jump exercise), and doing lifts with a wooden stick, with a total focus on speed, flexibility technique. So, at age 9 you then have kids with awesome flexibility, great technique, good exposiveness. And then you gradually start introducing weight on the bar (still very light) perhaps total 10kg for the lifts, and a little more for squats and pulls. Bones are still growing and developing at this age. The, during the ages of 10-13 you very gradually start increasing the weight, still with the major focus on speed and technique. Then, at ages 13-18 the weight really starts increasing, in a controlled way, making very sure to avoid injury. And then at 18 onwards, depending on maturity and growth the weight starts increasing quite rapidly (and at the right time, performace enhancing substances are added). And then 18-28 is when the really big gains start coming, and the real muscle development takes place.

Now, compare that to your average American kid. Perhaps at age 14-15, he walks into a gym, and starts doing a few bicep curls, and some benches. He is usally a bit overweight, has poor flexibility, and its simply too late to develop the kind of base that the kids have who started at 5.

You get the picture, right? This is really how is starts in the Eastern European countries, and in China. The US does this with gymnastics, and swimming, and they get good results, but they are way way way behind in weightlifting.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Stavios on August 13, 2008, 02:14:26 PM
awesome posts GIB !

I did some weightlifting in high school but I sucked big time because I have absolutely no athlete skills and I suck as sports  ;D
I lifted some good weights while training but my technique sucked ass so fucking hard I wasn't even bending my knees for the clean and jerk or the snatch  ;D

That sport is not for me cause I suck at it but I enjoy watching weightlifting meet, one of my friends is doing pretty good in those competitions.

his name is Marc-Olivier Provost from Canada, he competes in the heavier classes (I think he weight 280 lbs now cause he lost some fat, he was 320 in high school. fat but strong as a fucking bull)
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Zaphod on August 13, 2008, 02:32:06 PM
Because we are a nation of pussies and cosseted f.aggots who have become spoilt and lazy.
we can only win stuff if the odds are heavily in our favor and even then we often fuck it up. we are weak fuckers and our strength is only in our numbers. numbers largely swelled by inferior beings.

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE COMMUNIST STYLE STATE SPOSNSORED ROBOTS
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Michaeloz on August 13, 2008, 02:44:17 PM
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE COMMUNIST STYLE STATE SPOSNSORED ROBOTS
You are an idiot.   >:(Thanks for wrecking a good post.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: Campeon Del Mundo on August 13, 2008, 03:45:49 PM
Olympic style weightlifting is a dying sport...there's only a handful of guys in the world that still practice it...i've never even heard of an olympic weightlifting club before or gym...ever
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: biceps on August 13, 2008, 05:36:19 PM
"Do you also think that the learning curve is really hard in Olympic lifting.It takes tons of skill to perform the lifts and they are very difficult to learn.Plus ,so many Americans are benching from day one that they loose the flexibility in their shoulders to then learn Olympic lifting becomes impossible.I also agree that our strongest,best athletes go into football and then start lifting for football.In other countries,if your strong,you lift.Here,if your strong or large,you play football."

I think ideally for a lifter, you should start before 12. I started at 13. The top countries start their people at 5 or 6. That does not mean that at 5 or 6 they are doing actual lifts. Rather, they spend 2-3 years doing a combination of jumping, stretching, gymnastics, and things like throwing medicine balls, and doing things like burpies (kind of a squat, pressup, jump exercise), and doing lifts with a wooden stick, with a total focus on speed, flexibility technique. So, at age 9 you then have kids with awesome flexibility, great technique, good exposiveness. And then you gradually start introducing weight on the bar (still very light) perhaps total 10kg for the lifts, and a little more for squats and pulls. Bones are still growing and developing at this age. The, during the ages of 10-13 you very gradually start increasing the weight, still with the major focus on speed and technique. Then, at ages 13-18 the weight really starts increasing, in a controlled way, making very sure to avoid injury. And then at 18 onwards, depending on maturity and growth the weight starts increasing quite rapidly (and at the right time, performace enhancing substances are added). And then 18-28 is when the really big gains start coming, and the real muscle development takes place.

Now, compare that to your average American kid. Perhaps at age 14-15, he walks into a gym, and starts doing a few bicep curls, and some benches. He is usally a bit overweight, has poor flexibility, and its simply too late to develop the kind of base that the kids have who started at 5.

You get the picture, right? This is really how is starts in the Eastern European countries, and in China. The US does this with gymnastics, and swimming, and they get good results, but they are way way way behind in weightlifting.

Did you head a chance to train with  Dragomir? 
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: gib on August 13, 2008, 10:42:13 PM
Biceps - I am not from the US. I know who Dragomir is of course, but no I have not trained with him.

He is a person who clearly was a great lifter who has done some amazing lifts. I am sure he knows what would be needed to produce a great team at a national level. He would, I am sure, also have a pretty good idea of what the top weightlifting countries are doing both in terms of selection, training, and with regard to performance enhancing substances. This of course also puts him in difficult position of having to work with atheletes in the USA who have come into weightlifting relatively late in the game compared to the ages of the leading countries, and further to have to do it cleanly, without a systemized doping regeime, and then to fulfill the expectation to "get results".

And even with his knowledge, I just dont think in a free country like the USA, weightlifting can get a good supply of young atheletes, who pretty much eat/sleep/train, and do a bit of schooling. Perhaps in swimming, or gymnastics, with ultru pushy parents this happens, but its much rarer with weightlifting.

I have met and been coached by people from Eastern Europe, who really know exactly what goes on there. Probably the most advanced and valuable training and substance methods come from Bulgaria.

Now on to another topic. China - there is just no way their Olympic female lifters are clean. What they are lifting is really pretty mindblowing.

As from the comment from Zaphod "BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE COMMUNIST STYLE STATE SPOSNSORED ROBOTS", well - this is a harsh comment, but I know the point he is trying to make. Really, I think these Chinese athletes are pretty much controlled by the Govt, and are not really competing for themselves. They really are more of the mindset of having to complete "a job or mission for the State". Look at those poor little gymnast girls. Even at their current age, I think they have no real comprehension of the significance to China of their competing, let alone at the age they were "selected". A around 3 years of age, China already selects thousands of kids, who are brutally trained, and pushed increadibly hard, with the injured ones simply discarded once they are no longer of use, and then of couse the international community only sees the ones who have made it to the top of this selection process. Sooner or later, in the future, there will be a tell-all documentry made, that comes out (much like all the stuff that came out in the last 10 years about what was going on with the Eastern European athletes) and I am sure there will be some extermely shocking and sad stories that come out.
Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: m8 on August 13, 2008, 10:49:33 PM
What do you think about this, gib? Does it happen often?

Title: Re: How come the US sucks so bad in olympic weightlifting?
Post by: gib on August 13, 2008, 11:03:53 PM
Accidents like that are suprisingly rare.

I only know of one lifter who has actually had a similar injury (dislocating an elbow) and he was suprisingly back training after 3 months.

Much more common is people getting strain injuries in various joints, eg wrists, knees, shoulders, and lower back.

Of course I have seen any times things like a lifter passing out during a lift, or taking a fall after losing balance, but you get pretty good at safely "failing" a lift and letting a weight drop.