Topic: Conditioning question for Steve Gough

[Jerry Lee Morales]

Steve, what's your take on the way Europeans condition themselves vs. the way Americans do?  I've only been to a few National and International meets (spectator only) and the Europeans seem be conditioned much better than us.  With a few exceptions of course.

[Steve Gough]

Jerry,

My take is...  it's the system they train under. And I agree with your observations, at least the Eastern Europeans always look far fitter... weightlifting-wise. I think in our sport's case, specificity is the reason why. All energy, mental and physical, is poured into just doing the lifts, refining/honing them down to a gnat's ass. Constant, at least near-daily basis at high intensity, in a competitive environment, where you are following in an historical precedence with high expectations. In the Abadjiev interiew, he says to the journalists, "we don't have lifters in "B" sessions. I think that says it all.

Thanks for flattering me with your question...

Steve