Weightlifting PROS AND CONS

07.06.1994 (Sports)

In Lapmežciems, the old guard also gathered in large numbers for the Baltic Open Weightlifting Championships. And each of them had their own task. One of Latvia's once most outstanding shot putters and weightlifters (who also played for the volleyball team), Artūrs Sliede, sat at the judges' table this time, deciding on the technical execution of each act. Latvian ex-record holder Jānis Lejiņš participated in the award ceremony, Guntis Kalns (also an ex-record holder) coached his three sons in the competition, Oļģerts Bergmanis (now the president of the federation) has shouldered the heavy burden of organizing work. Aivars Ritenieks does not have a high title, but he has enormous enthusiasm for popularizing children's sports in the surrounding fishing villages. Today, a conversation with specialists will focus on only one topic - whether weightlifting at such an early age is harmful to boys' health.

First, I invited my schoolmate Artūrs Sliedis to the conversation .

- This time you were not only a judge, but also an attentive spectator at the children's competition. How do you assess the young guy?

technical preparation?

- I think that boys copy their fathers' lifting style. Guntis Kalnas' sons have better success and technique in the snatch, they have problems lifting the weight to their chest, but they push it up well. I also carefully studied Arnis and Raitis Riteniekis. Both make the same mistake - when standing up with the barbell, their knees are together. This can lead to injury. Children are not yet morally prepared to participate in competitions. Excitement and emotions take over. Raitis Riteniekis even cried after the failure. What advice could you give? It is important that the boys do not give up and still enjoy themselves at the age of 20. I know from experience that intensive sports can get boring after 10-15 years. Therefore, now, in early youth, it is important that training has a playful tone. I once watched Mikhail Rapoports train his then six-year-old son Andrei, who later became a high-class weightlifter. At that time, there were no children's competitions, so they used various exercises in training - "kangaroo", "turtle". But today there is no sign of games in Lapmežciems. Everything is the same as in adult competitions. Only instead of medals there are pineapples, bananas, oranges. I wish the guys and their fathers good luck and most importantly - to work so that when they reach the age of 20, their appetite for sports does not fade. It is difficult to predict the youth now - who knows, they will go into business or fishing.

Aivars Ritenieks almost cried with joy when his boys achieved six personal bests. I think Artūrs Sliede saw mistakes in Arnis and Raits' technique.

Aivars: - Yes, I admit them and agree with Artūrs, because I didn't go to high school, but the boys are healthy for me. Even despite the fact that I pumped them up in February. When Arnis, who weighs two pounds, lifted 51 kg in training in the winter, I wanted to push him even more to strengthen his legs, so we did squats for a week. As a result, we "sat down" our legs. It will take at least six months to "get them back". But we couldn't blame ourselves in front of the people of Lapmežciems, so we blew our faces off. Let's rest later.

Jānis Lejiņš. Yuri Vlasov's partner, trained with the famous Russian weightlifter, former Latvian record holder in the snatch in the 150 kg heavyweight category. Now retired. He no longer lifts the bar, having appeared in the circle of weightlifting competition organizers after a longer break. Oļģerts Bergmanis reportedly asked to come.

- We haven't had a tournament like this in our country for a long time, so it's a pleasure to watch the young people take on the irons, says the veteran. It's pleasant and surprising at the same time that fishermen can organize such a high-level tournament.

- Are you a supporter of early specialization in weightlifting?

- I wanted to talk about children. Lifting weights at the age of ten is torture for children. You can break your back. I've already enjoyed it myself, although I started lifting much later. Now that I'm no longer lifting weights, my back is fine. So I repeat once again that watching boys lift is nice, but it would be better if they played football, ran, or swam.

Digression. Jānis Lejiņš had not read 19.05. Sportu, in which we talked about Aivars Ritenieks' methodology in working with children. Therefore, this time we asked other specialists to express their opinions. The next conversation is with another one of the "torturers" of children, Guntis Kalnas.

Guntis was also the Latvian record holder in heavyweight, and is now a certified trainer. He is raising three sons and a daughter. He is from Liepaja.

- The Kalnu family in Lapmežciems is recognized as the best weightlifting dynasty. How old were your sons when they started weightlifting?

- My boys are older than Ritenieks and achieved their first successes even before Aivars started to do his own. I myself worked as a turner in a factory, made a folding bar like a pocket knife, all kinds of sticks, sticks, and at the age of six I started teaching the boys the basic movements of weightlifting. I would like to ask those who deny early specialization why little gymnasts can stand on their hands, but boys are not allowed to lift a barbell above their heads, which is a third lighter than their own weight. But the heart beats in both options, because the load. I have been accused of using the discipline of the gym with my sons, forcing them to do it with irons. But there are mothers who force their children to play the piano or dance. Discipline is necessary. In Liepāja, they asked me how I cope with my zepers, because others, you see, do not listen to their offspring. I am also asked if I am preparing my sons to become champions. Tālis is 10 years old, Uldis is 11, Valdis is 13. When I myself achieved the Latvian record in the snatch (150 kg), a reporter asked me how long I had been preparing for this title. I said one and a half minutes, as required by the regulations. But he did not know that I had been training for 15 years. It is not known at what age talent will blossom. Statistics show that out of a hundred aspiring athletes who have started lifting weights, only one or two can grow into excellent athletes. I do not believe that my boys will become champions. Let's continue to work without forcing things.

Let's summarize what we heard. So, how many people, so many opinions. Everyone stands for their own truth. But there is the so-called "golden mean", when walking which, the main argument is reasonable action. Let's stick to it. May health win!

Gatis ĶĪSIS