One thing I will always appreciate about having been a penniless immigrant in America who had to learn English and assimilate into the culture was that I experienced firsthand what it’s like to be an underdog.
I love underdogs. Americans love underdogs.
Andrew entered his third Weightlifting Nationals. He competed in the 14-15 year-old, 67-kilo class. He was one of the youngest and the lightest. At a bodyweight of 138-lbs, he was closer to 61-kilo (the next class down), than he was at 67-kilo.
The big dogs he competed against came from well-established weightlifting facilities from all over the Nation that have produced countless national, worlds, and Olympic caliber weightlifters. Further, the 15-year-olds he competed against have already gone through puberty. Big, bad, hairy testosterone is on their side.
Then there’s Andrew who humbly trains in the corner of the basketball courts at the gym (and sometimes in the basement garage at home) and his goat-farming coach / dad. We were clearly the underdogs. We were the Davids in an arena full of Goliaths. But we feared NOBODY. Because underdogs built America. Underdogs are the ones whose stories are often remembered. Underdogs are the ones who remain hungry and become the next top dogs.
Andrew’s mentality was fierce. My general advice of “it’s you versus you” does not apply to him. He didn’t just want to compete against himself. He wanted to compete against the top dogs, despite being realistic that he will not place this year.
His snatch opener was 53-kg (117-lbs). His second attempt was 57-kg (125-lbs). It was his all-time PR. Third attempt was 60-kg, approaching his bodyweight. He missed his last attempt, but we were happy with the decision to go all-out.
His clean and jerk opener was 67-kg (147-lbs). RPE of less than 5. Second attempt was 72-kg (158-lbs). He got 2 red lights as a result of soft pressout in his left arm. No biggie. I asked him if he wanted to try again on his third attempt.
He said, “No, dad. I want to increase to 75-kilos (165-lbs).” Increasing the weight after a missed lift is something you only see at the Olympics. It takes a lot of mental tenacity to have this mindset.
I said, “Okay bud. I will not tell you what to do. Because you know what you have to do.” (Sometimes over-coaching is worse than under-coaching.).
He took the almost the entire one minute on the platform to mentally prepare.
In the background I simply reminded him to “close, fast, low, lots of violence.”
He focused on the clean first. He hit it no problem. He then took a few seconds to tighten his position on the jerk. Then he attacked with all ferocity and received all white lights. 75-kilo (165-lbs) almost 30-lbs over his bodyweight, was his new all-time PR.
He may not have medaled this time around, but he beat his old self from the last qualifications meet just several weeks ago by 25-lbs. He set 2 new PRs. His total last meet was 121-kilo; today he hit 132-kilo.
Knowing him, he will keep that burning desire in his heart hotter than Kung Pao chicken on steaming white rice. Because our next big goal is to medal next year. Next year, he will be the top dog.
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