Topic: News: African lifter comes to Michigan USOC center

[Shaun Le Conte]

I saw a news article this morning about an African lifter being selected to come to Michigan to train for an 8 month program at the northern Michigan USOC training center, supervised by Andy Tysz.

Firstly, I didn't realize Andy Tysz was based out of Michigan, and secondly, does anyone have photos of this facility?

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Source The Tide Online Newspaper, Nigeria

Azike for weightlifting training in US
• Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008
Eighteen- year-old weightlifter, Onyeka Azike is set to leave for the United States on an Olympic training programme scholarship.

A press release signed by Tony Nezianya, spokesman for the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), said Onyeka, winner of three gold medals at the 9th All Africa Games in Algiers, would undertake the eight-month course as part of the preparations for the Beijing Olympics in August.

The course is at the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) training centre in Marquette, Michgan, U.S.

Nezianya said the intensive course would be supervised by American coach, Andy Tysz.

He said Onyeka is one of six beneficiaries of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) training programme funded by the Olympic Solidarity.

The scholarships are aimed at preparing the athletes for the August 8 to 24 Games in Beijing.

Other beneficiaries are Grace Daniels (Badminton), Jegede Tajudeen Salawu (Table Tennis), Chinonyelum Ohadugha (Athletics), Amarachi Obiahunwa and Isaac Boaz (Wrestling).

Daniels, currently at the International Badminton Federation (IBF) World Training Centre in Saarbruken, Germany, won two gold and two silver medals at the Africa Games in Algiers.

Ohadugha, a triple jumper at the Dakar Athletic Centre, won a silver medal at the Algiers Games.

Salawu, now at the Centre d’AIT Rendiment (CAR) in Barcelona, Spain also won a gold medal in table tennis at the All Africa Games.

Amarachi Obiahunwa (72kg) and Isaac Boaz (60kg), wrestling gold medallists in Algeris, are currently training in Cameroon.

NOC Secretary-General, Banji Oladapo, said the athletes were selected for the course based on their record as being among the best in their various sports.

“They are the potentials who the NOC has identified to fly Nigeria ‘s flag at the Beijing Games’’.

The statement said handball, volleyball and badminton as well as the medical and Scientific Commission benefited from courses in 2007, and supported by the Olympic Solidarity.

[andy tysz]

Mr. LeConte,

Here is a link to the training center here in Michigan:  http://webb.nmu.edu/SportsUSOEC/

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me.

Andy