Topic: Olympic RE-view

[Dave Chiu]

OK, I've gotten around to re-watching the W 63s and 69s...

Anyone else notice that there was only one B session for women in the whole Games?!?!

How is it w/ all the unused schedule space that there couldn't be more slots available -- especially for US men!!

A total goof by the IWF (along w/ the taping and hip # idiocy) -- really outrageous 

The maximum 4 spots for women and 6 for men is not w/o merit, but would be improved if qualified lifters/teams could double-up in up to 2 classes, for a total of 7 (among up to 5 classes -- c'mon, they sure had room) for women, and 8 (in up to 6) for men.

All that UNUSED space -- what a waste!!

Anyway, what was there was prime viewing:

The 63 B's showed the 4th Polish gal was of the same excellent preparation (and an amazing wide grip).  The VEN who avoided the bomb on her last C&J was a thrill, our USA lifters were good and happy (if not at their best), and of course GBR's Michaela Breeze was a portrait in courage.

63 A's had SO many WOWs, but I'll settle for mentioning the last lift (to get gold AND not bomb) by the PRK, the maginificent power of the tall gal from KAZ, and the AMAZING effort of the KOR lifter to try to take BR from the TPE athlete (anyone else notice how in need of a makeover all the TPE lifters seemed -- maybe it's some kind of spartan thing from the coaches, since the standard of living in Taiwan is more like JPN or KOR -- even the PRK ladies looked far better groomed).  And of course there was the emotional intensity of the RUS who bombed...

The 69's... Oh WOW, the 69's!!

The COL lifters were sooo fun to watch (notice the old medical official put the other blue coat into the wall in his rush to attend to the spectacular one who fainted?), wide grips, etc.  The 16 yr-old from EGY has some sharp quicks, flexibility, power jerk, and the coolest suit of the Games.  The JPN gal had some of the best coaches, suffered the most BS ref call of the Games (that Jury call was so incredibly bogus!!), and made one of the most impressive efforts on her final lift.  The RUS lifter was way below previous, but still solidly proficient for SI.  I was even more impressed by the BR winner from UKR -- what a machine!!  And of course the GO winner -- perhaps the performance of the Games.

[Vilmos Zoller]

The best competition for me in Beijing was M85, where Lu Yong had to jerk the 214 kg twice...

[Idan Perry]

Anyone else notice that there was only one B session for women in the whole Games?!?!

Every women class had B session except the 48kg and 75+

For me one of the best competitions was the men 69kg... i wish Dabaya had taken that last C&J attempt with 197kg for the gold

[Dave Chiu]

Yes -- that duel w/ Rybakov (still on my top tier of favorite current lifters) was awesome!!

There were ONLY EIGHT actual sessions for women, fully 6 fewer than had been scheduled.

And now for the 75's...

... another FANTASTIC session (only 15 of 71 att's were missed)!!

The ARM, MEX, COL, CAN, ESP, both UKR, and both BLR lifters were all really great to watch -- what a wealth of awesome athletes!!

The RUS lifter was so intense, sharp, and emotional -- at just 20, be great to see her in 2012 and 16.

The KAZ gal was so hardworking (seems to have a rt shldr problem), a real champion-level of grit.

The CHN champ has the most amazing physique of any lifter at these Games (other than perhaps Chigishev), and skills to match!!

[Dave Chiu]

Ah, the 75+ class!!

The GRE cutie, at 17, should be back a cpl/few more times -- wonderful energy and the technical polish of a top program.

At the other end was the long-armed lady from ESA, you really wanted her to succeed (great character and intensity, one of the benfits of being 35), and the UNFAIRNESS of the judging denied two of her C&Js for minor bobbles that were overlooked for lifters from PER and NGR.

The desire and intensity were also very evident from the AUS lifter, who really went on walkabout for her one good CJ.  Another you just HAD to cheer for.

USA's Cheryl Haworth did not appear to be injured, but at almost 30k LESS than her previous best, it was a real MISSED OPPORTUNITY to medal, reportedly w/ major $$ loss to herself and USAW.

The SAM girl was very strong and well-prepared, actually went for the Silver on her last att, and will be a major podium favorite by 2012.

The smaller UKR (70k less than her teammate) had quite a tall reach w/ her jerk.

Another teen from NGR was was strong but not sharp -- hard to say if we'll see her back, or at least not impressive in ways that make you care to.

A lot of the lifters really squandered the opportunity to connect w/ the crowd and secure an Olympian memory for themselves by taking a bow after their last attempt -- hard to remember when it's a miss, but the coaches (a few did) should do a better job of seeing to their interest this way.

The BIG (5'11" but looked taller, big hands) gal from KAZ was awesome w/ her BIG power SN, and come-thru CJ for the podium -- great emotion as she watched two others take a shot at displacing her, and the small asiatic coach who was so energetic w/ all the KAZ lifters REALLY helped the celebration.  She's only 21, so another prime medal prospect for 2012.

The BIG (30k more than anyone else) UKR showed plenty of power -- even if Haworth had been in her best shape the silver would have been a fight, and a refreshing enjoyment not usually seen from someone (especially a woman) of such unusual size.

Jang Mi-Ran may have had more pressure than any other lifter at these Games -- she was the only one EXPECTED to win from her country (the Chinese were expected, but none carried the whole burden for their country). 

An amazingly well-prepared-looking effort.  Always sharp, but never easy-looking 6-for-6 w/ all new WR.  Grim focus all the way thru until her last attempt was successful -- it really built tension for her to succeed, and made the last CJ almost seem as if it were make-or-break. 

I'd have let her celebrate at least a little along the way, but watching her coaches, it was obvious that other programs are way beyond the US when it comes to actual competition coaching.

Now for the men!!

[Dave Chiu]

56's were awesome!!

I want to give lifter-by-lifter comments, as they almost all are SO deserving, but here are some highlights:

The HIGH-HIP launch point has really become the modern standard.

The judging (a'la jury overturns) was really inconsistent -- a major downgrade to our sport.  Jury overturns are too disruptive to the pace of competition to be used willy-nilly, as they were against the TPE and PRK lifters.  Sure, those weren't perfect lifts, but no worse than several others that weren't arbitrarily yanked.

Did you see the super-narrown SN grip of the guy from TUN?

I loved the lifting and SUIT of the INA kid (his last SN and CJ att's were some of my favorites of the class).

The VIE guy expressed an amazing level of self-confident enjoyment that was quite a contrast to the dour aspect of his countrywoman in the 63's.  Both really good-looking and skilled lifters, but such a difference!!

Long of CHN is SO FUN to watch -- his tech is really a model of the modern way.  Sure would be good to see him surpass Mutlu in records, and maybe even golds.

[John Way]

Dave, Long certainly has the advantage of age on his side, hopefully he will exceed all the 56kg records within 2-3 yrs?

[Dave Chiu]

Hi John --

That's a good bet if you can get anyone naive enough to take it.  He has a great chance of doing so well before London, as long as he doesn't grow too much -- Mutlu had quite an advantage that way.

The youtube of his 170 in training is one of my most favorite.