Topic: Melanie is a WINNER

[steve zeigman]

My feeling about Melanie Roach

You can't expect the athlete to make these decisions on the per of the moment.  They are thought out in advance. To argue with what I call the expideter, since coaching to me is before the contest, just makes for mental confusion. So mostly athletes go along.

I'm just reading this, weight call for Melanie now.  Even though I wasn't on the spot, it concerns me as a former athlete with a little talent. If there were no team points on the line, which there weren't, then why hold a lifter back after they have made their opener?  What is gained for the athlete by this? With her own knowledge of herself and how she was feeling...with knowledge of the warmup room, with the documentation from her regular coach, who knows her from the day to day training, and has handled her at her big events in USA, why hold her back from her dream, her ability, her moment?

I'm at a loss! This is the kind of thing that re-enforced my decision to leave the sport in USA while still young and prime. In 1970 when I did that, I even was considering defecting to Russia, for a better Weightlifting environment, if I was fortunate enough to continue to progress and win in 1972. Traitor I don't think so. I'm a good citizen. I support my country to the best of my moral and ethical ability. But I'm an Athlete 100% for sure.

For those that don't know me as a lifter, many do, my Press after 1.5 years in training was higher then the great lightweight Bowsenowski in 1969. that was one of 3 events we did back then, and my C & J remained a USA Junior National record for 10 years after my absence from this game.

I'm sorry Melanie! If what I read is right you were wronged by the right people!