Carlos Andica- Part 3, The Opportunity

After the earthquake, Carlo's gym was destroyed.  He was a teenager from a poor barrio in Armenia, Colombia.  Weightlifting had been his only outlet for success and social mobility; now, it looked like he may have lost the one thing that had given him so much.

Carlos active rest

Fortunately, Gancho, the Coach of the Colombian National Team, had heard about Carlos.  Shortly after the earthquake, Gancho invited him to train with members of the National "B" Team in a different city.  At the time, Carlos was 69kg bodyweight and was snatching 135kg and clean and jerking 170kg.  In most countries a 305kg total as a 69kg would easily put you on the "A" Team.

Now worries, though.  It was not long after that Carlos made the "A" Team.  Further, the gym in his hometown of Armenia was eventually fixed.  On the National Team, Carlos would train back in his gym in Armenia.  

Carlos's first big milestone was making the 2004 Olympic Team for Colombia.   While qualifying for the team, he lifted 140kg snatch and 170kg clean and jerk as a 77kg lifter.  Still, he struggled with his  jerks. Through his frustration and watching Chinese lifters, he decided to switch to a squat jerk.  

Gancho, still the Coach of the National Team, strongly disapproved of Carlos's new technique.  He threatened to kick Carlos off the National Team if he did not switch back to the split jerk.  Despite these threats, Carlos, being a masterful athlete, knew he had to trust his instincts; he knew he would improve if he used a technique that worked better for his body.  By the 2004 Olympic Games, Carlos lifted 145kg and 180kg as a 77kg with his new squat jerk style.  This is a 15kg improvement he achieved in a short period of time.

Likewise, he continued to train hard. By 2008, he , again, made the Colombian Olympic Team, this time as an 85Kg lifter. He lifted a career best of 155kg snatch and  broke the magic 200kg number in the clean and jerk with 201kg.  He was truly one of the best lifters in the World.

Carlos in his Risto Sports Polo in front of his gym with Coach Ivan Rojas and LG.
The gym door features Carlos' personal slogan, "In the world, only two spheres exist,
 the Worlds and the Olympics"

BUT.....Something was still missing.  The athlete finds themselves asking "How do I get to the next level?  How do I become an Olympic and World Medalist?

...Enter Coach Ivan Rojas of Risto Sports.