Hey, doesn't this guy do O-Lifting?

[Mark Rippetoe]

The final word on the subject. Authoritative, concise.

[Beau Bryant]

So Shane Hamman would have been pretty much the best squatter in the entire Olympics whenever he was there. He lost because he was bad at clean and jerks and snatches, not because he was bad at back squatting.

Let's put this in perspective. This is how Shane "lost" according to you.

He competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics and finished 10th. In the qualifying for the Olympics, during the 2003 World Championships, on his final lift he single-handedly secured three spots for athletes from the U.S. in the 2004 Summer Olympics. In the Olympics, he finished 7th in his weight category,[6] setting a new American record with his total of 430*kg and his clean and jerk of 237.5*kg.

I think USA Weightlifting needs a few more STRONG men that are bad at the Olympic lifts. Seems like we were competing then.

[The Light]

I have the feeling that American superheavies have lacked upper body strength most of all. You guys are always fixated on the legs.

[Eatotronic3000]

I have the feeling that American superheavies have lacked upper body strength most of all. You guys are always fixated on the legs.

With feet on the bench no less.

Taranenko could also Olympic press 230kg.

[AriSuper]

What you guys should do is write to your Congressmen and have them get this guy to lift for the US - as far as I know he's still in search for a sponsor country

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVpHF8tE2qo

[Mark Rippetoe]

Yes, his technique is amazing. Much better than ours.

[Immortal_k]

What you guys should do is write to your Congressmen and have them get this guy to lift for the US - as far as I know he's still in search for a sponsor country

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVpHF8tE2qo

Weaker is faster, all that muscle won't do him any good on the platform.

[Toni Kallio]

Misha Koklyayev has obviously done something to piss off the Russian Weightlifting federation or the National Olympic Committée. I mean, it's not like he's the only lifter that has been using all that chemical coaching offers. Why didn't Akkayev and Klokov compete in London? They suddenly, one day before they were supposed to lift, decided not to travel to London. (The third best lifter in Russia, Ivanov, won the silver). It's also pretty difficult nowadays to have divert the tests, even in Russia. Probably Misha thinks it'snot worth the fuckin fuss.

[Mark Rippetoe]

And depending on his financial situation, it might not be.

[Toni Kallio]

Here's some real lifting for you to enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Dl1o9fIz0

He's natural, which is the reason why he will never be world champion or an Olympic gold medalist. But he will be top 8 in Rio 2016, best natural lifter in those Games.