[Al Myers]

I can hear the sales pitch – “buy 100 pounds and get 2 1/2 pounds free!!!”

[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

[Al Myers]

I have never heard of plates made specifically to weigh 102.5 pounds (but I have weighed 100# plates that were that much over). But I gotta a question – what about the weight of collars, wouldn’t that put the loaded bar over 250 pounds with these plates???? Al

[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

[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

[Al Myers]

And Joe, I know you have done 225#!

[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!!!

[Al Myers]

I sure understand how Thom feels on this. But the problem is the impact having a policy like he proposed implemented and the number of records it would eliminate if ALL of the rules that are different between the USAWA and the IAWA were changed. We are talking a minimum of 25 lifts here, maybe more. I would hate to see some of these great lifts taken off the books.

In talking with IAWA President Steve Gardner on this – he emphasized how at one time all the rules for the lifts for both the USAWA and the IAWA were the same when the initial rule book was implemented. This was when the organizations started in 1987. However, since that time the USAWA and the IAWA rulebooks have “evolved” in different directions for a number of reasons. It would be impossible to determine which records were set with different rules for all the lifts involved here.

I have identified several of these lifts that have different rules so far. The USAWA has made an effort to try to bring our rules into compliance with IAWA rules these past couple of years. At the 2011 National Meeting this happened for several lifts – which I think is a good thing. It is interesting to me that it seems that with most of the differences the USAWA has tougher rules than the IAWA rules. I’m talking about things like the heel raise on the Cheat Curl as an example. Also, read my blog on the differences between the vertical bar lifts. The IAWA rule is definitely easier for this lift than the USAWA rule. I did more at Worlds doing it the IAWA way than I could have done under the USAWA rule.

This will take time to identify all of these differences and make the changes, but I do feel that we are going in the right direction on this. Al

[Al Myers]

Thom, Just because you wear kiddy underwear with pictures of Dinosaurs on them doesn’t make them Dino Gym underwear! How do explain your Hello Kitty underwear????

[Al Myers]

hahahaha ET – where’s your counter offer for Lance?????

[Al Myers]

Lance, I greatly appreciate you lifting for the Dino Gym this year. But now since ET has registered his club (KC Strongman), I fully understand if you switch alliance next year!!! Since you will become a free agent – will a free Dino Gym sweatshirt be enough to keep you a Dino Gym member for another year????? Al

[Al Myers]

Steve, I sure agree with everything you said here – those are my feelings as well. You just expressed your feelings on this a little more passionately than myself!!

But unlike you, I have at times just wore shorts and tshirts in competition because it is allowed. I know at this past years Gold Cup I didn’t wear a singlet (but I had it in my bag) because my daughter went to all that work of making those special “Team Myers” tshirts up, and I didn’t want to disappoint her by covering it up with a singlet! haha

But let me give a couple of examples where wearing shorts/tshirts is an advantage over wearing a singlet in competition (that I have done as well) because it is allowed under the rules.

1. Continental to Chest – wearing a shirt with a sticky logo on the front definitely helps in the continental if you take the bar to the upper abdomen (bar will stick versus slipping on the front of a loose singlet).
2. Steinborn – loose straps of a singlet can interfere with the bar positioning on the back
3. Pullover and press/push – a slick front tight fitting tshirt will let the bar come in place much better than having singlet straps interfering.

Now isn’t the purpose of proper dress rules is to NOT ALLOW advantages?? Just food for thought here.

Another point Steve. I’m sure you are aware by now that your buddy Andy has claimed you as his partner in next years Gold Cup Challenge involving the 2man 1arm deadlift challenge between the UK and the USA??? I hope that you plan to talk your partner into wearing a singlet in this competition (along with you) because I know for a fact that your rival American team will be wearing singlets – and MATCHING SINGLETS at that!!! haha Al

[Al Myers]

Thanks Tom for passing this information along. Did you ever met Otto Ziegler? Al

[Al Myers]

I just got my MILO and have already read it “cover to cover”. For those of you that don’t know – I got published in this issue for the first time with my story on “the history of the Neck Lift”. Now I know Thom had to be in this issue at least a half dozen times, but my story is longer than all of his put together – AND IT DIDN’T CONTAIN ANY FLUFF!!! haha Actually, Thoms story on Wilbur Miller has to be one of the best he has ever written. I tried to “name drop” in my story as much as Thom does (but I failed in comparison) because I only mentioned you USAWA guys (and THAT includes you Tom Ryan!) instead of the really, really famous people that Thom knows. Al

[Al Myers]

Bill wrote me a letter shortly after the meet, and in the letter stated that he “lifted weights slightly more than embarrassing”. When I checked the result page it appeared to me that lifted quite well! I consider Mike Murdock as one of the best lifters I have been around over the age of 70, and Bill sure gave Mike a challenge! Bill can still deadlift 225# with his heels together – that is impressive! Al

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