Michelle Jenneke - just an awesome chick.

Post Reply New Topic

"I remember, at the time of the championships in Lima, that Reding in
training lifted record weights. He had acquired a terrific strength and huge
muscles, but he lost to me, even though he was physically stronger. Why?
Serge and I had different ways of training. Others thought for him. He
carried out the suggestions of his coach, Dupont. Roughly speaking, Reding
took in 'the science of winning' though his ears. And this showed when he was
on his own with the barbell. But, as for me, I thought for myself. Serge
also lost because he wanted to beat me. That's all he thought about. He
worried constantly and burned himself out before he even got to the platform
. . . "
For me the most important thing is to beat myself, to lift the barbell that
up to this point I have not yet lifted. My rivals don't worry me very much.
It's good when your competitors are strong and bad when they are weak. The
same Reding, now dead, when he appeared without me, beat the records every
time. And I treated him respectfully because he always kept me in shape. Now
Enaldiev, Rachmanov, Plachkov, and Bonk do the same ...

"At the championship, I am in a proper fighting mood. When I put on my outfit
and my shoes, this very process transforms me. I become more energetic, more
excited. It's here that it's important not to lose your head, you should
compete as much as possible with sense ...

"What advice can I give to the young ones who come out onto the platform with
their teeth chattering from nerves? First, you must enter a competition well
prepared. And for this you must train sensibly; you must work on yourself
physically but save your nerves. It doesn't pay to get excited over nothing
while training, to show off your courage, to swagger. Save this charge for
the contest. And then be alert when you go up to the barbell . . . And, to
be frank, even with all my experience, I am sometimes very nervous--you
cannot imagine ...