Chris Ⓐ LeRoux:
Welcome to The Weightlifting Exchange
As part of our effort to build community in the sport of weightlifting, we would like to give all of our members an opportunity to introduce themselves here. Our membership includes athletes, coaches, researchers, and people from all walks of life who have a special appreciation for this fantastic sport.
Here is a suggested format for your introduction. Please feel free to use it (copy and paste), or not. Please post your introduction as a response to this announcement:
Name: Age: Gender: Occupation: Location: Team: How did you get started/involved in weightlifting?: Years involved in weightlifting: Athletic achievements: Role in weightlifting: Coaching/educational credentials: Favorite weightlifter: Interests other than weightlifting: Other information you would like to share:
mikeburgener:
Name: mike burgener Age: 58 Gender: male Occupation: teacher/strength coach Location: bonsall, ca Team: team so calif. How did you get started/involved in weightlifting?: while a student at notre dame Years involved in weightlifting: since 1964 Athletic achievements: football at notre dame, def. back Role in weightlifting: coach Coaching/educational credentials: cscs, sr international caoch Favorite weightlifter: casey burgener Interests other than weightlifting: riding my harley Other information you would like to share: married with 4 great kids
Carissa Gump:
Name: Carissa Gordon
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Occupation: Full time student, full time resident weighter at the US Olympic Training Center, part time employee at 24-Hour Fitness
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado (from Essex, Vermont)
Team: East Coast Gold (1996-2003 Team Vermont)
How did you get started/involved in weightlifting? In 6th grade I was approached by my Phys. Ed. teacher 'Mr. Pol' a.k.a. 'Coach Pol' about starting weightlifting. I went into the weight room twice and never went back because I was the only girl at the time. In 8th grade my mom started working at the same school and Mr. Pol told my mom that I should be a weightlifter, well his persistence paid off, I went back into the weight room and haven't left since. You may better know 'Mr. Pol' as Chris Polaskowski as head coach of Team Vermont. He coached me for 4 1/2 years and then I moved to the olympic training center February 17, 2001 where I still reside. I still make it back to Vermont every summer to visit my 'old' coach :)
Years involved in weightlifting: Eight or Nine ? It's all kinda flown by
Athletic achievements: 2002 & 2003 Junior World Bronze Medalist 58kg. 1999-2003 Junior National Champion Member of the 2002 & 2003 World Team Member of the 2003 Pan American Team School-Age and Junior American Record Holder
Role in weightlifting: Athlete
Coaching/educational credentials: Club Coach Certified NASM Foundations Certified Local Referee Certification (studying for my national cert.!)
Favorite weightlifter: Jason Gump :) (he's my fiance)
Interests other than weightlifting:
Four-wheeling Watching movies Cooking Yoga eBay !!!
Mike Wittmer:
Name: Mike Wittmer Age: 50 Gender: male Occupation: Doctor of Chiropractic Location: Hazelwood (St. Louis), Missouri Team: Wesley How did you get started/involved in weightlifting?: wanted something to do after football Years involved in weightlifting: 15 as a lifter, 10 as a coach Athletic achievements: just a local lifter, 150/185 as a 110 Role in weightlifting: current coach of son Jeff Coaching/educational credentials: club coach (Dennis made me do it) Favorite weightlifter: I'll let you guess. Interests other than weightlifting: chiropractic Other information you would like to share: married and we also have a great daughter (almost 23), married and a first grade teacher.
Paul LaDuke:
Name: Paul LaDuke
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Occupation: Athletic Trainer/Strength Coach
Location: Hummelstown, PA
How did you get started/involved in weightlifting?: Lifting for football in high school
Years involved in weightlifting: 23
Athletic achievements: football 12 years (capt. 2 years 1- HS, 1 college), HS basketball, Keystone State Games Weightlifting Gold - 2005 94k class
Role in weightlifting: HS Strength Coach
Coaching/educational credentials: Master's degree in Sports Medicine, BS in Education with a minor in coaching.
Favorite weightlifter: Paul Anderson
Interests other than weightlifting: woodworking, digital photography
Other information you would like to share: Married, 3 great kids!