USAWA

I still feel we should make lifting suits mandatory. Almost every other organized sport requires some kind of uniform to compete. If we want our organization to have some credability we should require a lifting suit to be worn by all competitors.

“Costume”!?!? Sounds like we are going disguised as weightlifters to meets…..maybe that’s more true than I want to believe!

I once wrote a story to Clark’s newsletter years ago that I think some took too seriously (I really only meant it for Bill to get a chuckle but I should learn that whenever you would send him something it was fair game for the newsletter!!!!). Basically, I suggested that USAWA lifters should lift naked like the ancient greeks did in the Olympics….not even a jock strap as that may be “supportive” and give the lifter a disadvantage. But even then, someone could get “excited” and inadvertently “assist” the lift in an unfair manner because after all….not all men are created equal. And please fellas, I’m just tryin’ to get a chuckle, not being sarcastic because as John Wayne once said in one of his movies….”If I insult you, you’ll know it”!!!!!

[b]Quote from liftingliar on December 16, 2011, 19:30[/b]
I still feel we should make lifting suits mandatory. Almost every other organized sport requires some kind of uniform to compete. If we want our organization to have some credability we should require a lifting suit to be worn by all competitors.

This quote is coming from an all time All-round lifting legend. Take notice people!

With you all the way Denny!

I lke Thom’s idea, tho we have a rumor at the Ambridge VFW,when Art goes in to shower -if anyone is unfortuate enough to see him naked,they immediately turn to stone!

Seriously Denny has the right idea – everyone should wear a singlet & the same uniform.Personally I am more comfortable in a t shirt and shorts, but at meets the really serious competitors stand out,by their professional appearance.

[b]Quote from dinoman on December 16, 2011, 15:01[/b]
I just received a letter from Dale, and with it he sent a flyer detailing the new IWF rules on costume. When I first read it I thought it was some sort of satirical joke – but then I did some internet research and I see it is indeed the truth!

tp://weightlifting.teamusa.org/news/2011/06/29/news-from-the-international-weightlifting-federation-iwf-creates-more-inclusive-sport-environment/43174

Now Olympic lifters can wear full body unitards (with long sleeves) and anything on their head they want! This includes ball caps, skull caps, stocking caps or even a hood!

I also found it humorous that they referred to this as a “costume”. A clown costume if you ask me! No where in our USAWA rulebook do we refer to the official dress of competition as a costume – we call it “lifting uniform”, “gear”, and/or “lifting attire” – but NOT COSTUME!

What’s everyone’s opinion on this????? Al

Al,

You apparently don’t know the reason for the change, and I would guess that is also true for almost everyone else here.

So let me enlighten everyone. 🙂

Kulsoom Abdullah is a very bright (Ph.D. from Georgia Tech) 35 year-old Muslim lady who resides here in Atlanta. I don’t know her but she has trained at John Coffee’s gym some (as I have done a few times) and John, whom I have known casually for decades, likes her. He thinks she has a future as a weightlifting coach. The IWF changed its “costume” rules to allow her to compete. See
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2011-06-29-weightlifting-attire-rules-modified_n.htm

She made history by competing in our national championships in her lifting outfit (see http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2011/07/16/kulsoom-abdullah-honors-muslim-faith-makes-history-at-us-weightlifting-nationals/) and a few months ago competed in the world championships. She was below par because she said she had only 3 hours sleep the night before she was to lift (I never saw a reason for that) and finished 23rd in her class (see http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/11/kalsoom-23rd-in-world-weightlifting-c%E2%80%99ship/)

unless it has been changed recently you are allowed to wear tshirts and shorts at local olympic weightlifting meets, I know this as recently as 3 years ago was the fact, because I announced and officiated the last 10 years at the KS weightlifting championships, this was the rule as long the elbows and knees were not covered.

ST

We have a local weightlifting team at Truman State I work with. The old coach, who left recently, told his students if they qualified for the collegiant nationals he’d lift in a gorilla suit. They did so he did. I have a photo of him doing a 200lbs snatchat about 175 in a full on gorilla suit. Of course, he was DQed! HAHA

I am starting to feel like an old man…..I HATE change!

[b]Quote from dinoman on December 18, 2011, 11:17[/b]
Read this article and look at the picture of the lifter (the one Tom referred to) competing in, what appears to me to be sweatpants (even a violation of the IWF’s new liberal costume rules).

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/IWF-Changes-Dress-Code-Rules-Lets-Muslim-Weightlifter-Compete-125090654.html

If only the coach in the gorilla suit would have cut off the sleeves he would have been in legal costume!!! (not covering the elbows) That seems to be the only costume violation he violated!

I now feel much better about the USAWA official dress policy. haha Al

Al,

Unfortunately, things are a bit lax in contests here in Georgia. At the Southern Open last January, there were men lifting in sweatpants (and they weren’t Muslims), some lifts were passed that should not have been passed, and the session in which I lifted started about an hour earlier than it should have started, almost causing me to miss the start as I was the first lifter!

Incidentally, John Coffee is in the middle of the three guys in red in the photo that was in the link you provided.

Tom