Topic: News: Weightlifters Arrive in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Weightlifters Arrive in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the 2007 Pan American Games
By Cecil Bleiker

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The first six members of the 2007 United States Pan American Games Weightlifting Team arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil today. Athletes arriving today were, Jackie Berube (Colorado Springs, Colo./58kg Weight Class), Melanie Roach (Bonney Lake, Wash./53kg Weight Class), Natalie Woolfolk (Arnold, Md./Colorado Springs, Colo./63kg Weight Class), Matt Bruce (Baton Rouge, La./77kg Weight Class), Kendrick Farris (Shreveport, La. 85kg Weight Class) and Chad Vaughn (Konawa, Okla./Norman, Okla./77kg Weight Class). They were accompanied by Team Leader Frank Eksten (Crown Point, Ind.), Women’s Head Coach Dennis Snethen (St. Joseph, Mo.), Women’s Assistant Coach Bob Morris (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Men’s Head Coach Roger Nielsen (Arlington Heights, Ill.).

Emmy Vargas (Colorado Springs, Colo./75+kg Weight Class), Casey Burgener (Bonsall, Calif./Colorado Springs, Colo./105+kg Weight Class) and Jeff Wittmer (Florissant, Mo./94kg Weight Class) will arrive with Men’s Assistant Coach Kyle Pierce (Shreveport, La.) and USA Weightlifting Executive Director Rodger De Garmo (Colorado Springs, Colo.) on Friday, July 13, the day of the Opening Ceremony of the 2007 Pan American Games.

Weightlifting competition begins on Saturday, July 14 following the Opening Ceremony on Friday, July 13. The first U.S. weightlifters to take the platform will be Roach and Berube on Sunday, July 15. The weightlifting competition will be held in Rio Centro Pavilion #2.

The 2007 U.S. Pan American Games Weightlifting Team roster was finalized and announced today. There was one change from when nominations were announced following the conclusion of the 2007 USA Weightlifting National Championships in May. Jackie Berube (Colorado Springs, Colo./58kg Weight Class) replaced Cheryl Haworth (75+kg weight class/Savannah, Ga./Colorado Springs, Colo.) who medically withdrew from the event.

Haworth has been suffering from a nagging injury in her right leg and elected to withdraw to focus getting to 100% for the 2007 World Weightlifting Championships, the final Olympic qualifying event.

“The decision I made was very calculated,” said Haworth. “Obviously it’s a great honor to compete at the Pan Am Games and to be on that international stage and one of such importance. I am having a pain in the right side of my leg and we’re not sure what it is, so for USA Weightlifting and myself I feel that it is more important that I concentrate on getting my body ready for the World Championships, which are only 11 weeks away, than to risk further injury at this event. This year’s World Championships weigh very heavy as the final qualifier for the 2008 Olympic Games. It is our final chance as a team to qualify slots for the Olympics. I earn a lot of points for Team USA and feeling the way that I do, I feel that I need to concentrate on being ready for the World Championships which are such an important meet this year. In 2003 I was injured and not able to compete at the World Championships and because my lifts were not counted, a teammate of mine didn’t get to go to the Olympics because I wasn’t there to earn points for our team and I don’t want to deal with that again.”

For the Pan American Games, the United States Team will consist of nine athletes (five men and four women).

2007 United States Pan American Games Team - Weightlifting

Women
Natalie Woolfolk (Arnold, Md./Colorado Springs, Colo.), 63kg Weight Class
Melanie Roach (Bonney Lake, Wash.), 53kg Weight Class
Emmy Vargas (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 75+kg Weight Class
Jackie Berube (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 58kg Weight Class

Men
Kendrick Farris (Shreveport, La.), 85kg Weight Class
Chad Vaughn (Konawa, Okla./Norman, Okla.), 77kg Weight Class
Matt Bruce (Baton Rouge, La.), 77kg Weight Class
Casey Burgener (Bonsall, Calif./Colorado Springs, Colo.), 105+kg Weight Class
Jeff Wittmer (Florissant, Mo.), 94kg Weight Class

Women’s Head Coach: Dennis Snethen (St. Joseph, Mo.)
Women’s Assistant Coach: Bob Morris (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Men’s Head Coach: Roger Nielsen (Arlington Heights, Ill.)
Men’s Assistant Coach: Kyle Pierce (Shreveport, La.)
Team Leader: Frank Eksten (Crown Point, Ind.)

The athletes that arrived in Brazil today are excited and ready for the Games to begin.

Please see below for athlete quotes upon arrival in Rio de Janeiro.

Kendrick Farris (Shreveport, La.):

“It feels good to finally be down here. I’ve been training for all of these weeks trying to get ready for the competition and to finally make it and go through all of the processing, get my identification, getting settled into the Village; it feels pretty good knowing that I can finally relax and look forward to the competition. I’m looking forward to seeing the city. There is a kid back in Shreveport (La.) that is actually from Rio and he has family that lives here. He told me that you haven’t lived until you come to Brazil, so I feel alive now.”

Jackie Berube (Colorado Springs, Colo.):

“It is unbelievable to here. I’m just grateful to have this opportunity I want to make the most of it and do the best I can while I’m here and live it up. It’s going to be a great experience to be here with all of the other sports and to be a part of something bigger than weightlifting.”

Natalie Woolfolk (Arnold, Md./Colorado Springs, Colo.):

“I’m super, super excited to be here. It’s really nice in Brazil and I’m ready for tomorrow to have a chance to actually see some things, meet lots of new people which is really nice, being here with lots of new sports. I am really excited and ready to lift on Monday.”