Topic: Frustrating USAW news on BOD Agenda RE: American Records

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Yes, its a problem. They are erasing records and awarding them to people that lifted less. That is a problem for me at least. Some of the best lifts were done before 1998 and some weren't. To say no records set before 1998 will be allowed is insane, especially since the best lift ever- Shane Hamman's total, happened after 1998. This proves that ALL the records can be broken and there is no reason to lower them.

[John Way]

isnt the USAW, like all National Weightlifting Federations under a legal obligation to the IWF to IMMEDIATE follow all distributed changes of IWF rules as notified?

Isnt it true that all previous IWF 56kg men classes records were not readopted in 1998, i.e. Terziiski's 171kg Clean & Jerk record is higher than the current IWF 56kg record of 168kg held by Mutlu?

is it true the IWF has given the USAW a dispinsation to call the 56kg class in the USA, "the class not formerly known as 56kg, but for those lifters weighing under 56.00000000001 kg? lol

imagine being an 85kg senior lifter in Australia, you would have to be the 2007 World Champion to have a chance of breaking those  records http://www.qwa.org/liftstats/Ausstats/AWFrecords.xls so maybe the USAW has done MOST of you a favour regarding National records?

[Shaun Le Conte]

isnt the USAW, like all National Weightlifting Federations under a legal obligation to the IWF to IMMEDIATE follow all distributed changes of IWF rules as notified?

A legal obligation? Of course not. For instance, Canada has reset its records only once, and that was done in 1990 after the results of the Dubin Inquiry. In 1993, they converted the records to different weight classes eg. 60 kg --> 64 kg, 67.5 kg --> 70 kg and so on. In 1998 they again converted the records to new weight classes. 64 kg --> 70 kg, 83 kg --> 85 kg etc

So it's a bit of fudging but at least it *mostly* conserved lifts that were done since the 1990. The lightest weight classes got screwed around with somewhat but then Sebastien Groulx came along and rewrote the records to higher than they were before and resolved that.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

The USAW is obligated to follow its own rulebook.

[Markus Demeglio]

This all seems really weird to change the totals. If the total is lowered substantially, then its only a matter of time before someone smashes it into oblvion and reinstating a total closer to or above the all time totals.

[John Way]

I think it terrible that anyone would say you are not an American record holder, as the records were frozen
on 31/12/1992, and 31/12/1997.

Technically you would be an American record holder forever!

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

John,

Yes, I am sure that will be their argument. However, the Standards are recognition of the real records. To erase them, in violation of the rulebook and their settlement with me, is denying the existence and/or legitimacy of the original records and our agreement on the matter.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Looks like Wes Barnett may step in and resolve this matter peacefully. Keep your fingers crossed but my feeling is that he is going to fix it before its all in the hands of the lawyers, which would be good for everyone.