IWF rules on costume

[Al Myers]

IWF rules on costume

[Denny Habecker]

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.

[Thom Van Vleck]

“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”!!!!!

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Steve Angell]

[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!

[Al Myers]

What year/issue was that story of yours in Thom? If I can find it I’ll rerun it on the website! But I’ll need a picture of you training this way so I can have a picture to go with the story…..oh wait, never mind, I just found one in my files!!!

[John McKean]

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.

[Al Myers]

I have seen Art’s singlets – and they are so worn out it doesn’t leave much to the imagination!

I do believe there are split feelings on this subject. We are the only lifting organization that I know of that allows lifters to just wear shorts and tshirts (except maybe Highschool lifting). I do know of several lifters that might not lift in the USAWA if singlets were required. We are not really in a position to limit membership by making singlets required. I know I prefer lifting in a singlet (I sometimes even were a singlet when training), but AT LEAST we don’t allow the lifters to wear lifting outfits that are ridiculous (like full body unitards!). My opinion is lifting in shorts and tshirts look more professional than THAT!! Al

[Tom Ryan]

[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/)

[Scott Tully]

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

[Al Myers]

I went to the IWF website and got their rules covering official dress:

IWF TECHNICAL AND COMPETITION RULES
4 OUTFIT OF THE ATHLETES
4.1 COSTUME
4.1.1 Athletes must wear a weightlifting costume which is clean, designed and worn so as
to comply with the following criteria:
• must be one-piece
• must be collar-less
• may be of any colour
• must not cover the elbows
• must not cover the knees
4.1.2 A unitard may be worn under the costume. The unitard must comply with the
following criteria:
• must be one-piece
• must be tight-fitting
• must be collar-less
• may cover the elbows and knees
• may be of any colour
• no pattern or design permitted
4.1.3 A T-shirt may be worn under the costume. The T-shirt must comply with the following
criteria:
• must be collar-less
• must not cover the elbows
• may be of any colour
4.1.4 Shorts may be worn under or over the costume. Shorts must comply with the
following criteria:
• must be tight-fitting
• must not cover the knees
• may be of any colour
• may be worn under or over the costume
4.1.5 A T-shirt and shorts cannot be worn instead of the costume.
4.1.6 Hair and any items worn on the head are considered to be part of the head.
4.1.7 At competitions, the athletes participate in the uniform clothing issued / approved by
their Federation. For this purpose, the Victory Ceremony is considered part of the
competition.
4.1.8 Socks may be worn, but they must not go higher than below the knees and must not
cover any bandages on forbidden areas.

Scott – so shorts and tshirts are allowed to be worn in the IWF, but a costume must be worn as well. It appears to me from reading this that is not allowed to just wear shorts and tshirts.

Tom – I was aware of this reason from the flyer sent to me from Dale. It contained an editorial from IWF Vice President Sam Coffa. In it, he stated “The progressive rule change received worldwide repercussions and a general acclaim not only in the Muslim world but also by the international community.”

This whole issue appears to me that a sweeping change was made that affects everyone over the concerns of ONE INDIVIDUAL! That seems a little drastic and may not be representative of everyone involved in Olympic Lifting. Couldn’t just an exception be granted for this case? When it comes to headgear in the USAWA it is not allowed, but our rulebook has this clause “Headgear of any kind in not allowed except for religious purposes.” That provides “our exception”, and it wouldn’t affect the entire integrity of official dress in the sport. But then again, maybe the IWF is looking at a bigger picture and thinking that allowing lifters to wear wild costumes (like full body unitards with hoods) might increase it’s appeal to the younger person? Just my opinion. Al

[Thom Van Vleck]

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!

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Al Myers]

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

[Tom Ryan]

[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

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