07-02-19 06:13 PM - Post#884212    

A compelling video of Oscar Figueroa's journey to the gold medal in Rio; at this: Link

(Click on the closed captions option to enable the English sub-titles / translation from Spanish to work with the video).

A short video of the last two lifts of the Clean & Jerk competition: Link

In the Olympic channel series Against All Odds there are altogether 11 episodes; the Bill Schuffenhauer story is well worth watching: Link

Link to all 11 videos in the series: Link

07-03-19 09:38 AM - Post#884236    

As my grandson, Danny, says: "My eyes leaked."

That is what it is all about. This is a gem, thank you.

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

2016 Olympic 62kg champion weightlifter Oscar Figueroa from Columbia
07-03-19 01:02 PM - Post#884242    

My goodness thank you for posting this. Big weightlifting events can create such dramatic moments. You make it or you don't. All or nothing. Notice that he goes from bombing with 120kg to opening with 137kg eight years and two surgeries later. He snatched well over double bodyweight and was approaching a TRIPLE bodyweight clean & jerk there.

"The trouble about always trying to preserve the health of the body is that it is so difficult to do without destroying the health of the mind."~GK Chesterton

Edited by Browser on 07-03-19 01:04 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

2016 Olympic 62kg champion weightlifter Oscar Figueroa from Columbia
07-03-19 01:22 PM - Post#884243    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lssO92BNsJc

Please watch this one also. I knew Steiner's story and have seen this lift many times, but to get the first person perspective is priceless. It also includes this gem:

"The very best athletes are distinguished by one thing. They compete a lot of times, but they only have a few where they have one try which will decide everything and that can change their life. In life you only have two or three, maybe only one chance and you have to grab it. That's the difference between a very good athlete and a champion."

"The trouble about always trying to preserve the health of the body is that it is so difficult to do without destroying the health of the mind."~GK Chesterton

Edited by Browser on 07-03-19 01:27 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

07-03-19 06:47 PM - Post#884255    

I remember seeing those failed lifts from Beijing, they got a lot of coverage which wasn't given to Oscar's silver and gold medal wins. The whole story however is inspiring, thank you for posting it.