The 2011 National Weightlifting Championships

[stef]

by Jim Moser

I compared our lifters to the first place finishers of last year’s World and Pan American Championships. The Olympic Games are right around the corner. The upcoming Pan Am and World Championships are qualifier meets for Olympic slots. It is important that our lifters do well at these events. Our results in these events will determine the representation of the USA at the upcoming Olympics.

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[Mac Ward]

Great article, and thanks for taking the time to write it. I'm new to the sport, and I found it informative, helpful, and well...useful. It provided for me some understanding of where our American lifters stack up against the international scene.

For me, a newbie, it seems that we Americans seem to focus on American records vice international records. This is what keeps us from doing more, we're only as good as what we compare ourselves too.

As I watched some of the video of the 2011 Nationals on You Tube, I was struck by the absence of people in the audience. It's not a widely supported sport and that is the crux of the problem as you pointed out in your closing paragraph.

Thanks again,

Mac

[Michael Liao]

"The second way is to develop a grassroots system
combined with a fast-track program and a logical feeder program that would support the development
of world-class professional weightlifters. The second sounds better to me, because it provides a way to
actually do something instead of merely waiting for something to happen."

I couldn't agree more; from all the positive life changes weightlifting has promoted in me personally, I'm for going ballistic in the endeavor to produce champions w/ sports schools, specialized sports programs, & a national sports school like the Chinese, despite what the ninnies say...

[shepard]

Thanks for the legwork, Jim. It's nice to see all the numbers crunched.

While the women's sessions were equally disappointing in regard to bombouts and missed lifts, anyone that saw Chioma Amaechi's last clean & jerk has to have been at least a bit inspired. It also isn't quite as depressing on the women's side (Olympic champion 11 years ago, instead of 51). Granted, we got lucky on that one.

[ARoden]

Excellent article, thanks. Got to see Yasha Khan at a meet in Connecticut a few months ago. Cool to see someone at the national level up close, plus get to lift the same barbell. Although with much less weight on it...

[reneelee]

great wrap up, Jim...but disappointed that you didn't wrap up the females. Yes, most of the leading ladies bombed out (Danica, Aimee...but still would have been nice to have similar perspective on where the ladies rank in the world.

[Gymmoser]

I will put together an analysis for the women's side in the next couple of days. The women have a better shot at getting more slots then the men. With good results at the 2011 World Championships and 2012 Pan Am Games the women should be able to get 3 slots.The women finished 21st at last years World Championships. Places 17 to 21 receive 2 slots. The women should get another slot at the 2012 Pan Ams if we finish in the top 4.

[MylesKantor]

Thanks for this write-up, Jim, very informative. On Caleb Williams winning the 69kg class, I know of only three other lifters who have won both a WL nationals and a PL nationals (Carrie Boudreau, Shane Hamman, and Mark Henry).

[Gymmoser]

Myles,

I think you can add Jim to the list. I would have to check the records, but I am pretty sure he did also. Jim is a amazing guy still squatting 700+ in his late 40's.