Strength and Power Notes December 2008
The IWF’s World University Weightlifting Championships took place in Komotini, Greece, the last week in November. Complete results were posted immediately on the IWF’s site, www.iwf.net.
It was a real pleasure for me to assist Team USA, as it had been a number of years since my last overseas assignment. As the team manager and head of delegation I basically handled on-site logistics and liaised with the IWF and FISU, the governing body for the World University Games. Weightlifting is scheduled to take part in this multi-sport event in 2010.
The US team had some hurdles just in showing up when and where we were expected to be. Sarah Robles had the toughest time, with a complete re-routing that included air travel to Athens, then a train to Thessalonica, and finally a bus to Alexandroupoli and Komotini. Sarah survived the ordeal well, although I’m sure with a bit more rest she would have lifted more.
Sean Hutchinson and Aaron Adams, traveling without other team members, missed a key flight connection in Amsterdam due to snow. They showed up about 12 hours later.
Housing was great and the Greek Weightlifting Federation conducted a smooth competition. The federation’s new president is 3-time Olympic gold medalist Pyrros Dimas, who took time for photos with many of the US team. He was particularly pleased to do so with Norik Vardanian, son of Dimas’ hero, Yuri Vardanian.
We were all surprised to learn at the banquet that the U.S. women’s team had won the team title. We were consistent and placed well throughout the categories, although we had no women’s class winners. Zach Krych won a hard-fought battle in the men’s 85kg, winning on his last lift.
Overall, this meet is a big stepping-stone for many of our future international stars. It was interesting to see all the participating countries competing on fairly even ground at this level.
On a side note, I was surprised to find my long-time colleague and friend, Ioannis “John” Fatouros, PhD, at this competition. But, it makes sense since John teaches at Democritus University, the site of the competition. John was the driving force behind my attempt to create an NSCA-Hellas chapter about 10 years ago. John’s name is well known as a top-notch sport scientist and someone who will make big impacts in the strength and conditioning world in the years to come.
As reported last month, sales of the new STFC System have gone very well. Of course, this is the time of the year when cyclists and triathletes tend to cut back on their endurance training and focus on other forms of exercise. It’s been a long, uphill struggle to get cyclists and triathletes to realize they could resistance train much more effectively than they do.
As noted elsewhere, I’ve been delivering this message to cyclists for nearly 30 years. The new STFC DVD and manual go a long way toward spelling out the most effective way to gain strength and power, without having to gain unwanted muscular bulk. Most of us in the Iron Game realize this, but so many others are ill-informed on what works, what doesn’t, and why.
Coming Up!
- There’s been no further word about the proposed Cross Fit Alexandria clinic in Virginia, tentatively scheduled for January 17-18.
- I’ll be in Santa Fe next month doing a law enforcement program with longtime colleague, Les Knight, PhD.
