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The weekly feature page of the University Daily Kansan March 8,1978
Pressing on to the Olympics
There are two kinds of lifting. Power lifting takes mostly brute strength, and Olympic lifting involves more technique. In 1980 the silhouettes will still be on the walls, but these weight lifters will be...
(2) Source: 10, independence, Mo., top, relaxes after a strenuous workout. His jacket, which he proudly displays, is stained from his efforts. "Oh, my God," moans Mike Sooter, Overland Park, above, who is on his last set of squats that he finds are pushing him to the limit.
Straining below a larger-than-life silhouette, a lesser endowed man emits an animal-like groan as he struggles under the weighted bar.
"Now, explode, explode real strong," his buddv vells.
The weight lifter, Mike Sooter, Overland Park, slowly straightens his legs. He and his colleagues are trying to lift them ourselves out of the water to Mo., to Moscow for the 1980 Olympic games.
The man who has the best chance of going
to the Olympics is watching Sooter carefully. The man, John Sherard, Roeland Park, already has qualified for the National Team, which will be held in Los Angeles in May.
The National B Championships are a preliminary meet for the National A Championships. If one qualified for the B Championships, he would be qualified for the Olympics.
"The biggest thing with lifting is mental," the 18-year-old Sherard said.
Barry Sommers, Overland Park, with the encouragement of John Sherard, Roland Park, manages to complete a successful snail.
Olympic lifting consists of two lifts, he said. The snatch, lifting a weight over the head from the floor in one motion, and the clean and jerk, lifting the weight from the floor to the chest and then overhead in two motions.
"I don't put down anyone who lifts only for body-building," he said, pointing to the silhouettes on the walls, "because I do it a little myself. However, there are some people that look stronger than me but I can outlift them."
The weights of the two lifts are totaled to determine the winner, he said. Sheerard, who is in the middle-weight division, had to lift a minimum of $18 pounds to qualify for the tournament.
Sherard said that two weeks ago he had the total for teenagers in the United States.
Sherard, along with Bob Giladert, Omega are the only ones that have qualified for the national title.
"However," Sherard said, looking at the man who walked in with medals dangling from his neck.
Gary Savage, 18, Independence, Mo., began lifting weights three and a half years to help his judo. Last year he was the na- ture power-lifting champion of the United States.
Power lifting consists of three events—the bench press, squat and deadlift, Savage biceps
In the bench press, the lifter lies on a bench and lifts a weight by extending his arms. The squat involves lifting a weight that is placed on the shoulder by standing up
Savage, who won most of his medals from judo, for the past four years had finished in the top four in the nation for judo. Because he is now the now is concentrating on Olympic lifting.
and in the dead lift the weight is lifted from the floor to a waist-high position.
"I like the competitive aspect of lifting," he said.
Savage, who works out about 15 hours a week, said he preferred Olympic lifting
"Power lifting is most healthy, anyone can do it," Savage said. "But Olympic lifters are the hardest."
Savage has not qualified for the nationals yet because he has not lifted in a sanctioned
The next scheduled meet is in Shawnee Mission North High School this weekend. The entry fee and transportation costs must be paid to entrants, unlike their Russian counterparts.
In Russia, where weight lifting is the No. 1 sport, the athletes are supported by their coaches.
Because he would have to pay his way to Los Angeles, Savage said he would go only if he qualified for considerably more than the minimum weight.
"There is no funding until after you've proved yourself." Sherard said.
The dozen men in the gym fell silent as Savage prepared to lift a weight. He lifted the sagging bar up to his chest. Taking a deen breath, he began the lift over his head.
"Now, explode, explode real strong. Sooter yells, as the bar raises over Savage's
John Sherard, the top teenager in his weight class in the United States, relaxes after a long workout.
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Photos by Randy Olson Story by Robert Beer