Topic: News: 2006 Arnold Invitational Weightlifting Exhibition

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Reprinted with Permission

Georgi Asanidze Coming to the Arnold  
January 05, 2006

2004 Olympic gold medalist Georgi Asanidze (Georgia) is coming to the Arnold as part of the invitational weightlifting exhibition that began in 2005 and is being expanded this year thanks to the direct support of Jim Lorimer.

Georgi Asanidze - Olympic champion, world champion and European champion - is known around the weightlifting world as a tremendous snatcher who makes great lifts instead of big excuses, despite genuinely having lockout problems. Asanidze is part of the tremendous Georgian weightlifting legacy that includes three-time Olympic weightlifting champion Kakhi Kakhiashvili, their coach-extraordinaire Ivane Grikurovi, and rising star, Arsen Kasabiev.

If you have never seen world class weightlifting, you are in for a treat, and if you have, you need no further convincing: Georgi Asanidze at the Arnold, March 3-5 is a don’t-miss event, so plan on joining IronMind in welcoming him to Columbus, Ohio.

Please check http://www.arnoldsportsfestival.com/ for full details on the Arnold. See you there!

They might not say "cowboy up" in Georgia, but that's what they do: Instead of whining about his poor lockout, Georgi Asanidze (Georgia) snatched a world record 181 kg as an 85-kg lifter at the 2000 European Weightlifting Championships (Sofia, Bulgaria). Randall J. Strossen photo.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Reprinted with Permission

Cholakov and Botev Are Coming to the Arnold  
January 09, 2006

IronMind is extremely happy to announce that the Bulgarian Weightlifting Federation has accepted its invitation to have Velichko Cholakov lift in the special exhibition on the main stage in the expo hall at this year's Arnold, and Stefan Botev will be coming as his coach.

Who is six-feet nine-inches tall and snatches over 200 kg? Velichko Cholakov. The Bulgarian star, along with Stefan Botev as his coach, will be participating in the invitational weightlifting exhibition on the main stage of the expo hall at this year's Arnold. Randall J. Strossen photo.

Jim Lorimer said that he and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger have always had a special affinity for weightlifting and are extremely pleased with the development of this invitational exhibition which began last year with an elite delegation from the Chinese Weightlifting Association. This year's invitational exhibition will once again feature Olympic medalists from the Chinese Weightlifting Association, and it has been expanded to also include Olympic medalists from Georgia and Bulgaria.

"This is an incredible opportunity for the weightlifting community and shows the commitment the Arnold has made to the sport," IronMind's Randall Strossen said.

The Arnold is the world’s largest multi-sport expo, and this year's event, which runs March 3-5, is expected to draw well over 100,000 people. For full details, please check: http://www.arnoldsportsfestival.com/

See you there!

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Reprinted with Permission

2006 Arnold Invitational Weightlifting Exhibition
January 05, 2006
 
Complementing its weightlifting competition, the 2005 Arnold introduced a new event, an invitational weightlifting exhibition featuring a star-studded delegation from the Chinese Weightlifting Association: coach Chen Wenbin and Olympic gold medalists Shi Zhiyong and Zhang Guozheng.

Befitting the stature of this delegation from China, its participation in the 2005 Arnold marked the first time weightlifting was featured on the main stage of the expo hall, where this distinguished team generated tremendous excitement.

This tradition is continuing in 2006 as the Arnold and IronMind are proud to once again welcome a distinguished delegation from the Chinese Weightlifting Association: coach Liu Weiguo and 2004 Olympic silver medalists Wu Meijin and Le Maosheng.

Mark your calendars, make your travel arrangements and plan to be part of the world’s largest multi-sport expo, the Arnold: March 3-5 in Columbus, Ohio. For full details, please check the official Arnold web site: http://arnoldfitnessweekend.com/

56-kg weightlifter Wu Meijin (China) celebrates his huge 165-kg clean and jerk at the 2004 Asian Weightlifting Championships (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Come see Wu Meijin, along with his teammate Le Maosheng, and their coach Liu Weiguo at the 2006 Arnold. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.