Funny Chinese Face Struggling Lifting Weight
Weightlifting not a mainstream sport in Canada but tradition growing
It is a sport like few others in the Pan American Games.
By Jose Colorado, Centennial College
It is a sport like few others in the Pan American Games.
Competitors individually come out of a black curtain to a hushed crowd and then onto to a lighted stage where they offer the crowd a stone-cold stare.
Passionate pleas of support and encouragement then scatter throughout the audience as spectators anxiously pull for athletes to toss a hefty weight overhead, all while the competitor's knees seemingly appear ready to buckle beneath them at any moment.
The sport is weightlifting, and for many successful countries at the Pan American Games — such as Colombia and Venezuela, who finished first and second in the weightlifting medal count — it has become a mainstream fixture, unlike in Canada.
Although the country's time in the spotlight may not be far behind, according to some.
"The sport has changed a lot as a whole in the last ten or fifteen years — there is a big tradition of weightlifting in Canada," said George Kobaladze through a French interrupter following his silver-medal performance for Canada in the men's 105-plus kilogram category.
"There are a lot of immigrants who are coming from other countries that bring their own perspective into the sport and that helps the sport evolve in Canada."
The women's 75-plus kg, men's 105 kg, and men's 105-plus kg weightlifting competition took place on July 15. Lifters performed two exercises: the snatch and the clean and jerk.
While Kobaladze ignited the Oshawa, Ont., crowd with a silver medal performance, it was the Venezuelans who dominated the night.
Canada's only other medal was captured by Montreal's Francis Luna-Grenier in the men's 69-kg competition on July 12.
Barrios Gonzalez captured gold in the men's 105-kg while Yaniuska Espinosa and Reveron Perez snatched gold and silver in the women's 75-plus kg category.
For their part, the women were more than willing to help in the Canadian development process.
"One of the greatest things of weightlifting is that every single country has their own way to train and to prepare," said Espinosa and Reveron through a Spanish interrupter as they wore their medals. "I would love to share my experiences with Canadians in order to help towards their future (training programs) for Olympics or Pan Am Games."
According to those at the Oshawa Sports Centre, the competition provided an experience few other events could parallel.
"This is my first time watching weightlifting live and it's been really cool. The setup, atmosphere — it's really exceeded my expectations," said Alvin who drove in from Mississauga, Ont., along with a group of friends.
"(My friend and I) bought tickets to all kinds of things we usually wouldn't get to see – this really is dramatic and interesting" added John of Oshawa.
The intimate sporting experience carried internationally, according to the Venezuelans.
"We just think of giving joy to all the people who are supporting us," said Perez. "We listen and we hear them so we work with that."
IN LAYMAN TERMS
Snatch: Start with the bar at the bottom and pull it fully extended over your head in one motion.
Clean and jerk: Two motions. Start at the bottom and then it rests at the chest area, then the second distinct motion pulls it upwards and over the head.
Press out: Where it isn't a fluid motion but instead the competitor attempts to lean and "press out" the last couple of inches. The most disqualification.
Weightlifting: Uses snatch and clean and jerks, both overhead movements
Powerlifting: Uses squats, bench press, and deadlift – none are directed vertically overhead
Bodybuilding: Does not incorporate weights at all, demonstration of physique and symmetry
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Source: https://nationalpost.com/sports/weightlifting-not-a-mainstream-sport-in-canada-but-tradition-growing
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