|
|
|
2004 USOC/USAPL Palm Beach County Sports & Fitness Festival
|
The 2004 USOC/USAPL Palm Beach County Sports & Fitness Festival "Tropical Games" Bench Press & Deadlift Championships was a huge success for USA Powerlifting (USAPL). This year's event, held on July 15-16, 2004, marked the first time in the history of the sport that the "official" National Governing Body (NGB) for Powerlifitng in the United States of America, the USAPL, worked and held training clinics, as well as a championship under the direct [patronage] of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). This patronage coming by means of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, a USOC Community Olympic Development Program (CODP). The overall purpose of CODPs is to create visibility for Olympic and World Games sports, as well as give to youth access to those sports and to create feeder programs for talented athletes. For some athletes, the opportunity can ultimately lead to making a USA National or Olympic team. The CODP, besides giving youth an opportunity to train under certified coaches, also emphasizes other Olympic Ideals - proper nutrition, lifetime fitness and conditioning, anti-doping, perseverance, personal best performance, as well as community involvement. Combined with the fact that the International Powerlifting Federation has applied for "provisional" IOC recognition this year, this event provides positive encouragement and enforcement that Powerlifitng will one day not only recognized by the IOC, but the USOC as well. This event proves such barriers can be broken and progress is, in fact, taking place. Palm Beach County Sports Commission and Institute The Palm Beach County Sports Institute was founded in 1996. The main goal of this 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization was to focus on the development of grass roots programs for the youth of Palm Beach County. This goal is achieved through the Institutes and commissions involvement in events such as Palm Beach County Sports Achievement Awards, The Lou Groza Place Kicker Awards, Palm Beach County Sports and Fitness Festival, and Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame. Through these events the Institute and Commission has spread the positive aspects of athletics to over 50,000 children in the county and beyond. In 2002 the Institute joined forces with the United States Olympic Committee to form the Community Olympic Development Program. With the addition of this program the Palm Beach County Sports Institute has been able to help the youth of Palm Beach County "Just Say Yes to Sports." 2004 USOC/CODP Palm Beach County Sports & Fitness Festival The Palm Beach County Sports & Fitness Festival is specifically geared to introduce all of the Olympic and World Games Sports, through the presentation of short clinics, to kids 6-13 years of age of Palm beach County. Given this, I am proud to say that during these two very intense and long two days, there was significant outreach to some 3,000+ kids that attended the powerlifting clinics. These demonstrations, included hands on instruction utilizing alumilite bars and plastic weights from Bigger, Faster, Stronger (BFS), so as to teach youth level athletes the technique in the three disciplines of powerlifting. This instruction was provided by Jim Dundon, coach of the Florida Gulf Coast University Powerlifitng Team, his student athletes, and me. On this note, I would like personally and publicly thank Jim and his lifters for their contribution to such a noteworthy cause - Great job and thank you! At the conclusion of each clinic, the kids, their coaches and parents were provided with information handouts on USA Powerlifitng, as well information on the positive benefits the sport of powerlifting provides to not only the athletes, but as a community development tool to promote and develop youth fitness. Key and important, ALL of the monies raised through the entry fees from the powerlifters partaking in the "Tropical Games" Bench Press & Deadlift Championships, held the following day, were given directly to youth level sports development programs within the communities of Palm Beach County, Florida -- A noteworthy and worthwhile cause to say the least. USAPL "Tropical Games" Bench Press & Deadlift Championships The third day of the event included the hosting of eleven (11) sport competitions in an Olympic Festival style setting. Athletes from all over the state traveled to Palm Beach County to participate in these competitions, which included Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Powerlifting, Chess, Jump Rope, Table Tennis, Tennis, Bowling, and Fencing, with the spectator admission being FREE! The event was directed and sponsored by the West Palm Beach Sports Commission, and was held at the Palm Beach Fair Grounds, which included a 500,000+ square foot air-conditioned convention center. Key and important, during the course of the day, some 5,000+ people came through the turnstiles to watch these events. This location and layout provided the perfect setting for a powerlifting championship with some extraordinary performances being turned in by all of the athletes attending this championship. Most noteworthy of these performances being Brenda Lemus's bench press of 75kg/165lbs, in the 48kg class and Greg Wright's deadlift of 272.5kg/601lbs in the 75kg class. Greg's pull with this weight had the entire facility on their feet, including the athletes from the other sports, who stopped their competitions, to watch and witness this feat of strength. Other notable performances were turned in by JD Clark, Jon Landau, Julian Ulvang, Chris Dixon, David Silverbloom, and Larry Russell. Special recognition also goes out to World Gym of Ft. Lauderdale, under the coaching of Dan Mathews, for winning the team title, as well as to spotters and loaders Matt Britt and Richard Bowers for their super job! Congratulations to each and every lifter that took part - super job! USA Weightlifting - Florida During the contest, I had the opportunity to meet and speak with Rich Lansky, the president of USA Weightlifting - Florida. Discussions centered on how we can partner and work together on future events, and how both Weightlifting and Powerlifting can be a compliment to one another. I plan to pursue this strategy further next year. With this being said, at next year's event, it is already set that both weight sports will be side by side in the same venue. I believe this will be a first as well. Special Presentation - Florida Powerlifting Hall of Fame During the intermission at this championship, a special awards presentation was made to one of the iron games most dedicated, loyal, and proud servants - Raphael Gurerro of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Raphael has served as an Olympic Weightlifting Team Coach for the USA, Cuba and Spain. He has served as a technical advisor at more than five (5) Olympic Games and several Pan-American Games. Moreover, he has been inducted into Hall of Fame for both the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) and USA Weightlifting (USAW). It goes without saying that his contributions to not only weightlifting, but powerlifting are equally profound here in state of Florida, as he has trained numerous state, regional, and national powerlifting championships, and has been a gym owner for more than 30 years. Our congratulations and special thanks to Raphael! Staff Support & Referees An event such as this could not have been this successful if it were not for the support and assistance from the following people who volunteered to assist with this event. I will begin by again thanking Jim Dundon, Rich Hayne, Raeanna Monfort, and Joanna Wiersma of Florida Gulf Coast University - great job, Vince Lombardi, USAPL Florida State Chairman, USAPL Referees; Mike Licciardi - National, Karen Licciardi - National, Jim Dundon - State, Pam Caffery - State, Terry Caffery - State, and Adeline Ulvang - State. All of the referees performed with the utmost professionalism - Thank you for a job well done! Special thanks are in order to both Priscilla Ribic and Rick Fowler for the USAPL Flyers, as well as to JD Clark and Jeff Lawson of Tropical Gym for their continued support of USA Powerlifitng - Florida. I would like to conclude by sending special thanks to the Dr. Larry Maile, and to the USAPL EC for their support of this venture, and to Nova Southeastern University for their assistance with providing both equipment and vehicle transportation to this event. Needless to say, each person played a significant role in the overall success of this championship. To close, next year's event will be much larger and more involved than ever before, as the event plans to include several other events, to maybe even include strongman. I am still developing this idea. So, if you are interested in lifting, volunteering or becoming involved with this event next year, please contact me directly, and I will place you on the mailing list. Otherwise, the best of luck with your training for 2005, and I look forward to seeing you there! Robert Keller Program/Contest Director 2004 USAPL Palm Beach County Sports & Fitness Festival "Tropical Games" Bench Press & Deadlift Championships |
Contest Photos
 Clinic Intructions by Joanna Wiersma  ... and by Rae Anna  FGCU Powerlifting Team  FGCU Youth  Greg Wright Deadlift of 601  Presentation to Raphael |