Monday, November 2, 2015

The evolution of weightlifting culture from weird to cool in 20 years

Are you new to the sport of weightlifting? Have you been lifting for less than 3 years?
Did you start weightlifting because after 6 months of Crossfit, you realized that you really just liked lifting more than doing the actual WODs?
Did you start lifting because strong is the new skinny?
Did you start weightlifting because it is cool?

I'm so glad I don't have to compete in a bathing suit and biker shorts anymore

Well,  if you answered yes to any of the above, you are probably in the majority of lifters these days.  Behold, you have benefited from the years of weightlifting evangelists, like myself, working to make the sport popular alongside the burgeoning enthusiasts pouring out of crossfit   (yes, I take responsibility for encouraging the thousands of crossfitters I meet a year to get a USAW card...hey, crossfitters love Risto Sports cause its underground and fair trade...its what all the cool kids are wearing before everyone else knows it's cool... )

Interestingly, weightlifting was not always cool. Weightlifting = cool is really a phenomenon of the last 2-3 years.  Understanding the evolution of weightlifting culture is not only a fun read, but it is also important to understand the sport and how to get the most out of it.

A little compare an contrast of society's attitudes towards weightlifting today and 20 years ago

Back in the 1990's, weightlifting was not cool. It was not popular. Most people would think that you were weird to even spend an inordinate amount of time training for an Olympic sport that no one in the USA cared about. If you said you were a weightlifter, less than 2% of the people you met would know what a snatch or clean and jerk was-- and they would refer to you as a "bodybuilder" or "powerlifter".

For this reason, weightlifters referred to themselves as Olympic weightlifters to help avoid any confusion with powerlifting or bodybuilding. Today, many would say that the term"Olympic weightlifting " is redundant as most people in the fitness industry now understand that "weightlifting" refers to the sport contested in the Olympics and not powerlifting or bodybuilding.

Interestingly, as the distinction of weightlifting is , now, understood as "Olympic weightlifting", the USOC , coincidentally, started enforcing its trademark on the term "Olympic". In other words, don't include "Olympic" in the name of your weightlifting focused brand or website.

Back in the 90's, your options for singlets and weightlifting shoes were extremely limited-- unless you lived in Eastern Europe. In America, when I got my first pair of weightlifting shoes, I had the option of choosing from the 1994 white and red adidas model or the 1996 white and red adidas model out of the USA weightlifting (then USWF) mail order ad.  For a very brief period, they also had ads for "safe shoes". Understand this -- the then US Weightlifting Federation (renamed USAW in 1998), sold weightlifting shoes mail order because there was almost nowhere for athletes to get them. adidas shoes were about $120, which would be about $216 today! Yes, they were always expensive. Again, we used adidas because that is all that USAW sold and adidas was a USAW sponsor at the time.

So, if you didn't like color combinations of white and red, you would basically have to call an uncle in Russia or Poland to pick-up a cool pair of old style soviet weightlifting shoes- you know the boot like ones with stripes and a strap that lifters had been using since the 1890's!  

Singlets were another thing. They were impossible to find; later, in the 90's adidas ones became more accessible at a steep price. Most people lifted in wrestling singlets. Wrestling singlets showed a lot of man-titty, so many women did not wear them unless they had a t-shirt underneath.   Women's weightlifting was not yet an Olympic sport (2000 was its debut). Most women lifted in one piece bathing suits, many with biker shorts underneath.  Today, one piece bathing suit-like singlets are coming into style for women ; it's pretty laughable since many women in the 90's would have done anything to be able to buy a singlet that covered their chest and quads.

Access to a place to lift and coaching was the biggest issue in the 90's.  There was no UFC gym, there was no crossfit box, most college and high school weight rooms did not have bumper plates. Most of the time, lifters were  coached out of 2 places : 1) some guy's garage that some how found a way to buy bumper plates and a bar by some magic pixie dust, or 2) at some sort of semi-publicly funded gym like the Wesley Center or Lost Batallion Hall or the Team Savannah center.  Most of the coaching was incredibly hit or miss. Because there was no internet, it was so hard to find a decent coach and there were so few, it was luck of who was in a 1 hour driving radius(reality check: most people didn't use the internet until 1998, people didn't start massively texting until 2009). Finally, you would be hard-pressed to find any of the information now available today on weightlifting- few books, few articles.

Gradually, in the late 2000's, weightlifting started becoming more acceptable. Crossfit started becoming the cool new thing from the west coast and helped grow a market for weightlifting apparel. And, because of the internet and the expediency of doing trade in the 2000's, companies like Risto Sports could finally offer some much-needed alternatives in footwear and singlets. 

2008 was one turning point. Companies looking to make a buck were starting to notice an expansion in the niche weightlifting market. After more than 20 years of not having a weightlifting shoe on the market (that I know of),   nike, the company known for running shoes, brought out the romaleos model.  Their initial marketing campaign was a bit laughable; with one youtube video, a nike shoe designer referred to the snatch as a "split-snatch". It is interesting, they literally sold on their brand name and having smartly sponsored Team China, which was the most successful weightlifting team in 2008. I laugh when I read bloggers referring to nike having made weightlifting shoes for a long time, as they really have only been on the market for a few years.

2013 was a real turning point. By the American Open 2013, 2 platform national meets were becoming the norm. There were far more athletes qualifying for national meets, and it became a thing to have said that you qualified for a national meet- way more so than in earlier years. The depth of the classes also went up significantly , even though the American records only budged in a few areas (time will tell on how long more members will translate to much higher level of lifting at the top). 

Women and lifting has changed. I acknowledge that you can still , today, read facebook posts about women who were told lifting will make them bulky, etc.... etc.. I will say , OVERALL, attitudes of women in weightlifting have greatly improved.

Here's an example from my life:

1990's point of view on middle school girl weightlifter:
I remember being in middle school, and people asking, "why don't you play softball", "play a girl's sport", "aren't you going to get bulky", or "that's going to stunt your growth".

2010's point of view on middle school girl weightlifter:
  20 years later, society's reaction to my multi-time National Youth champion daughter as, "that is so sick", "that's amazing", and "how do you do that".

In summary, be thankful for the amazing amount of options and positive attitudes you face as a 2010's weightlifter.  You can get a weightlifting shoe in almost any color, and even fair trade ones! You can get a singlet that covers your ass and boobs (wow, what a deal)! You can easily find a great coach, and if they don't live near you, they can coach you via internet between visits to them.  Overall, accessibility to knowledge on weightlifting has increased.

Only down side is there are way more purveyors of snake oil out there, and increased information does not mean increased knowledge.  Again, you got the internets to help you as your guide and cool knowledgeable people like me to help you network! =)

4 comments:

Podium quest said...

Haha. I chuckled the entire time I read this. I'm guilty as charged. New to weightlifting. Found it after suffering a TBI while cycling for triathlon. After suffering massive depression and gaining 140 pounds from being sportless, I tried CF. The only thing I really liked about CF was weightlifting. Now I'm a weightlifter and weightlifting is all I think about. oh, I'm trying to qualify for the national championships- you mentioned that in your post too. hahaha. Your spot on.

gwen said...

Thanks for the comment. Glad to hear CF and lifting got you past a injury and depression, its amazing what lifting can do for a person. Well, you are certainly not alone on your lifting career path --Welcome to the dark side, hahaha.

Fun fact: We actually discourage our lifters from cycling on their off days because its too easy to get injured from falls, or, simply, it tires out the legs too much.

Gennie said...

Weight lifting for women are really beneficial in many ways that helps to maintain body figure,....
weight Lifting For Women

D.E. Heeren said...

Being around weightlifting in one form or another for 40 years, I find it amazing how much weightlifting has grown because of CF. But, many of those entering weightlifting from CF will never be champions because age is a big factor. Still, weightlifting has always been cool to weightlifters. CF will never be cool to weightlifters.

Lifting in Kazakhstan, Temirtau, Ilyin's former gym

Lifting in Kazakhstan, Temirtau, Ilyin's former gym
In Temirtau, Kazakhstan. Still, unable to do any overhead work from a ligament tear, I'm just rehabbing with pulls to retrain my muscles. Training next to me is the Youth and Junior team of Temirtau. Ilya Ilyin used to train in this facility as a junior. As well as a recent Junior World Champion, Maksim

Snatching 92kg at the Risto Olympia Cup

Snatching 92kg at the Risto Olympia Cup
This was the 2nd highest snatch in all of the USA for 2014 in official competition for women's 69kg weight class. The only athlete to snatch higher was Jenny Arthur with 98kg. At the time, she was lifting for USAW weightlifting club Risto Team.

Oscar Figueroa,Olympic Silver Medalist, World medalist 2009

Oscar Figueroa,Olympic Silver  Medalist, World medalist 2009
Pictured at Salitre with Oscar Figueroa in center.

Popular Posts

Carlos Andica training with Coach Ivan

Carlos Andica training with Coach Ivan

Arnold, Carlos & Joni Andica

Arnold, Carlos & Joni Andica
Right before Coach Ivan consulted Carlos for the 2011 Pan AM Games, where he broke a Pan AM record. These guys were unofficially competing for Risto Team at the 2011 Arnold.

Shoe porn

Shoe porn
Russian boots, classic weightlifting shoes with modern shoe technology. Exquisite full leather upper, wood heel, rawhide forefoot, natural rubber outsole. One of a kind.

Documenting history of singlets

Documenting history of singlets
USAW national team member in Risto Singlet

Ivan in the Warm-up room with the Andica Brothers

Ivan in the Warm-up room with the Andica Brothers

Leidy Solis- PAN AM Champion 2009

Leidy Solis- PAN AM Champion 2009
Leidy in winning form, she's wearing risto weightlifting shoes. Congratulations Leidy!

Exceeding expectations -Archive

Exceeding expectations -Archive
Classic weightliftng shoe design with modern accents. These were produced by Risto Sports

In Iceland

In Iceland

Coach Jonny Pan AM champ

Coach Jonny Pan AM champ
Afternoon coach, doing pwr cleans while his lifters finish up

shoeporn

shoeporn
note pawprints

Abs

Abs
More on Facebook

Shoeporn-Custom Weightlifting shoe history

Shoeporn-Custom Weightlifting shoe history

Documenting shoe history

Documenting shoe history
first commercial shoe marketed to youth sizes

Bucharest Training Center

Bucharest Training Center
Ramanian Coach Doru, Ivan, Romanian Lifter Eiza

Nikolai Stoichkov- JR Bulgarian Lifter, son of Zdravco Stoichkov

Nikolai Stoichkov- JR Bulgarian Lifter, son of Zdravco Stoichkov
Training with a pair of Botev shoes. These shoes take a beating of 18000 to 20000 reps per year and heavy loads 90-100% - Also known as the Bulgarian system.

sweet singlet

sweet singlet

Future Champion- Tough lifters wear pink!

Future Champion- Tough lifters wear pink!
Gwendolyn Rojas getting ready to snatch 60kgs at 20kg bodyweight and 4 years old.

Stoichkov in Action

Stoichkov in Action
Coach Stoichkov adjusting my starting position.

Ivan giving training advice in Frankfurt Oder

Ivan giving training advice in Frankfurt Oder
Here Ivan, as a coach, is giving lifting advice to German Junior lifters at the Olympic Training Center in Frankfurt Oder, Germany. Yes, Ivan is fluent in German and is speaking German to the lifters.

Working out with the Champs

Working out with the Champs
Gwen squatting wth Georgiev, Peschalov, and new lifter in background

Training in Bulgaria - Gwen and Coach Zdravco Stoichov

Training in Bulgaria - Gwen and Coach Zdravco Stoichov
Stoichov is coach of Peschalov, Georgiev, etc. Also of key interest: Similar to USA lifters missing out on their chance to medal at the 1980 Olympics , at the time of the boycotted '84 Olympic Games, Stoichkov outlifted the LA Games Gold Medalist at the Friendship Games/ Druzhba Games. The Druzhba Games were held in 1984 by Eastern bloc countries not participating in LA.

Ivan with Nikolai Gergov, Bulgarian Wrestling Champion

Ivan with Nikolai Gergov, Bulgarian Wrestling Champion
Ivan with the Greco wrestling world champ, Nikolai Gergov, after their workout. I still think its uncanny how elite athletes from multiple sports would just show up at Slavia for a workout (....and atleast one ask for lifting advice). Again, overall, Bulgarian athletes were humble or, rather, didn't "have an attitude" in the gym.

Gewichtheben - training at the German Olympic training center in Frankfurt am der Oder

Gewichtheben - training at the German Olympic training center in Frankfurt am der Oder
Me with the German Junior Team and Coach/German Olympian Lars Betker

Documenting shoe history: Coach Burgener Shoe

Documenting shoe history: Coach Burgener Shoe
A wonderfully patriotic, Americana themed shoe and T-shirt. GO USA!!!

Gwen posing with Peschalov

Gwen posing with Peschalov

Stoichkov during competitive years

Stoichkov during competitive years
Vintage photo of Stoichkov winning international Championship

Rumy, Bulgarian lifter

Rumy, Bulgarian lifter
Rumy,75kg lifter, stops by for a light workout in Slavia, Bulgaria

Botev stops by Slavia

Botev stops by Slavia
Gwen, Stefan Botev (multi-time Olympic Medalist and world champion), and Ivan

Gwen with Power Clean/slpit jerk with 80kg

Gwen with Power Clean/slpit jerk with 80kg
First workout in Slavia.

Size perspective for youtube video

Size perspective for youtube video
In Beijing, junior lifter

Ivan and Eric, the speedskater

Ivan and Eric, the speedskater
After a hard work out, Ivan and Eric go summertime cycling in Maine. Eric is a competitive Speedskater and a proud owner of weightlifting shoes. Ahhh ...nothing like summers in Maine!!

Stefan Georgiev

Stefan Georgiev
World and European Champion, 62kg. Rooting for him to medal in the 2008 Olympic Games!

Hanging out with Weighlifting heroes

Hanging out with Weighlifting heroes
Peschalov, Stoichov, self, and husband

Old Stuff - shoe porn

Old Stuff - shoe porn

Peschalov and Coach

Peschalov and Coach
Peschalov trained with Stoichkov leading up to his Gold medal win in 2000 Olympic Games

Training in Kennedy, Bogota

Training in Kennedy, Bogota

Euvgeni Popov, Stoichov, and Gwen

Euvgeni Popov, Stoichov, and Gwen
Popov - 1980's Bulgarian weightlifting team, also accomplished power lifter and strongman competitor.

Beijing - Gongti Area

Beijing - Gongti Area
Gwen lifting at second training location in Beijing near Workers Stadium, Gongti

Sylvia, Bulgarian Junior lifter, wearing Botev shoes

Sylvia, Bulgarian Junior lifter, wearing Botev shoes
Schoolage Champ, one of Stoichov's newer lifters. Sylvia also trains in Botev shoes. Her pair is also several years old and has lasted over 18K reps per year!

Romania - Training Center in Bucharest

Romania - Training Center in Bucharest
Me trining with Romanian lifters in Bucharest. Former USAW National Coach, Dragomir Ciroslan, had once lifted in this gym.

Wrestling World Champion (Greco) Nikolay Gergov working out in Slavia (BG), me in background

Wrestling World Champion (Greco) Nikolay Gergov working out in Slavia (BG), me in background
Nikolay Gergov is a Bulgarian Wrestling World Champion - Greco Roman 66kg category. Nikolai is already naemd to the 2008 Bulgarian Olympic Team. He is also competing at a meet at the Colorado Springs US OTC later this month (FEB 08). Anyhow, Nikolai just stops by for a workout in Slavia. He saw Ivan and I working out and asked Ivan for some technique coaching.

Gwen with Chinese coach of junior team at Chaoyang Ti Yu Chang (Beijing)

Gwen with Chinese coach of junior team at Chaoyang Ti Yu Chang (Beijing)
The coach pictured with me had won a gold medal in the snatch lifting against Karolina Lundhal (world champion) at the 1998 Worlds in Finland in 75Kg class.

Lifters in Bucharest

Lifters in Bucharest

Ivan with Coach Chiu, gongti area Beijing

Ivan with Coach Chiu, gongti area Beijing
After discussion of Chinese pull technique. Chiu is a former Junior World Champion.

Good Leather Smells good

Good Leather Smells good
Really, this was a Candid photo..."wow, this smells good"

Ivan Lifting in China - 2006

Ivan Lifting in China - 2006
Chinese training center, Chao Yang Ti Yu Chang in Beijing, a JR team pictured in background

Choayang Ti Yu Chang - Ivan with chinese junior lifters

Choayang Ti Yu Chang - Ivan with chinese junior lifters

Abigail Guererro, Almerimar, Spain 2004

Abigail Guererro, Almerimar, Spain 2004
In forefront, Abigail , who has been on the Spanish National Team, with teammates in background.

Me with Blessed Udoh, in Spain (DEC 2004)

Me with Blessed Udoh, in Spain (DEC 2004)
Blessed won the silver medal in 48kg at the 2001 World Championships representing Nigeria. She also trained in Bulgaria for the 2004 Olympics. Sadly to report that she died in Nigeria, last year.

Gwen lifting at Chaoyang Ti Yu Chang - Beijing,

Gwen lifting at  Chaoyang Ti Yu Chang - Beijing,
In Beijing, Chinese Juniors in background. Great kids, good sense of humor, listened to their formal coaches

Spain- Ivan and Miguel Borrazas

Spain- Ivan and Miguel Borrazas
Our good friend Miguel has coached Spain's national team.

Training Bogota

Training Bogota

Ivan with Coach Ediberto Barbosa, fmr Col natl team

Ivan with Coach Ediberto Barbosa, fmr  Col natl team

Mock Competition in Bogota

Mock Competition in Bogota
Gwen out snatches the challenger

Rick Bucinell, breaking master world record

Rick Bucinell, breaking master world record

Ivan arm wrestling Peschalov

Ivan arm wrestling Peschalov
My husband "attempting" to arm wrestle Peschalov with his good arm. Ivan remarked "Wow, he's strong..he was really trying to arm wrestle me" ..no kidding ....ha ha ha

Stuff you need to compete

Stuff you need to compete
Belts, singlets, knee and wrist wraps.

Little Gwen doing workout with new lifters

Little Gwen doing workout with new lifters

Me on Team USA which was sponsored by Risto Sports, 2010 University World Championships

Me on Team USA which was sponsored by Risto Sports, 2010 University World Championships
Me lifting for Team USA. We won 15 medals, Ivan was Assistant Coach to Team USA. We had no official uniforms-- until, THANKFULLY, Risto Sports donated gear such as USA polos and t-shirts, so we could at least match in some semblance of a uniform. The team got to represent our country well!

Tanya Morillas - 2004 in Spain

Tanya Morillas - 2004 in Spain
Training session at Almerimar. Subsequently, Tanya has been on Spanish national teams.

Dare Alabi , 77kg lifter (Nigeria)

Dare Alabi , 77kg lifter (Nigeria)
Nigerian lifter, Dare, lifting in Spain

warming up power cleans

warming up power cleans
Me training in Bogota Colombia