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Bethann McCalla (Cedar Valley Athlete Spring 2008) is a University of Northern Iowa student training for the 2012 Olympics in the sport of weightlifting. She, along with several other local coaches and athletes, spent two weeks in China during the Bejing Summer Olympics training with the Chinese, considered to be the world’s elite weightlifters. She submitted this diary to Cedar Valley Athlete Magazine.
Day 1
After a 13-hour flight, we were ready to sleep. Unfortunately, we missed the last ferry to take us to Zhu Hai. We had our first night of sleep in the Hong Kong airport.
Day 2
We finally stepped onto Chinese soil this morning only to discover it was incredibly hot. It was 5:45 a.m. and already 80 degrees with about 85 percent humidity. This is typical Chinese summer weather.
Day 3
We had our first workout at the gym. It was the same temperature inside as out. We had a difficult time with fatigue from jetlag. We saw boys and girls ages 9-18 lifting what average college students lift in the U.S. Their technique is flawless. It was obvious in training they are expected to act and train as adults but between sets, you were quickly reminded they are children. They were welcoming (we assume since they didn’t speak English) but they weren’t impressed with our technique and justifiably so. American technique pales in comparison to Chinese Olympic technique.
Day 4
While I was between sets, a group of lifters gave me a red rope bracelet. (My) Coach (Jianping) Ma told me it is a Chinese lucky charm. Luck surely followed because we got to eat at a nice restaurant with faculty from the Zhu Hai sports school. The food was delicious and completely different than “Chinese” food in the U.S. It was fresh and healthy.
Day 5
Today was the first day I had some strength. I still was not acclimated. We sweat so much our shoes were soaked. One of my friend’s shoes actually molded.
Day 6
Sunday is our day off so we went shopping. There are so many people and shops it’s overwhelming. IPods, HD video cameras, Gucci bags, Rolexes and other fake high-end products are about one-fifth the cost and mostly of legitimate quality. I came home with seven bags and six pairs of shoes! The exchange is about one U.S. dollar ($) to seven Chinese yuan (¥). Being white in the shopping center is like having the scarlet letter for being a sucker. People constantly bugged us to buy things. They know our money is worth more and we probably don’t bargain well. We all figured it out eventually.
Day 8
This was my first workout in the girls’ group. (Chinese) Coach Shi, through charades, gave me tips to improve my technique: clean grip should be slightly wider than shoulder-width, toes should be straight forward for initial stance, gaze just above horizon for head/upper-back position, and to relax my arms so I use my leg strength instead.
Day 10
I decided to max-out. I snatched 64kg (one kg less than my personal best). I clean and jerked 80kg (five less). I was pleased because I implemented my improved technique. I unsuccessfully attempted 85kg.
Day 12
Off to Beijing! Zhu Hai was great but we were ready for something new. The city was cleaner than we expected and the locals were really friendly. The government did a great job of putting on a façade of safety and wealth. The city is typically neither. Olympic advertisement was EVERYWHERE!
Day 13
Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liuken are incredible to watch live! It was a preliminary meet versus Great Britain, Japan, and Italy. Shawn is bouncy and obviously happy to be there. Nastia looked nervous but still had incredible performances. As a former gymnast, I almost rethought my life-calling. However, after much deliberation I decided to stick with weightlifting. I like my feet safely on the ground.
Day 14
Watching my weight class, 58 kilograms (127.6lbs), at the Olympics was surreal. All Olympic events are amazing because the world’s best athletes are under one roof, so to speak, to push each other to feats of greatness. It was awe-inspiring to be in the presence of women who can easily throw twice their body weight above their heads.
The winner of the 58kg weight class, Chen Yanqing, had lifts of 106kg in snatch and 138kg in clean and jerk. The crowd was deafening every time she came out, since she is Chinese.
After the medal ceremony, I left with friends from Hong Kong to eat at a restaurant near the Forbidden City. Normally, I eat little meat but I ate duck, abalone, camel, venison, beef, pork, chicken, and other seafood all in that meal. It was the best meal I had in China. If in doubt, try it!
On our way back, we noticed a muscular Asian man with a ponytail walking in front of us in the subway. That man was a woman and that woman was Chen Yanqing! She only speaks Chinese so I got a picture with her and she quickly left before anyone noticed her.
The entire experience in China was unforgettable. However, the whole time I was there I could not help but dream of being in London in 2012. Being at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing gave me a taste of the goal I am working for. Yes, 2012 is a long time from now but in ways it is just around the corner. I have to make every second count for the next four years. Maybe I will make it to London and maybe I won’t. Either way, I plan to work hard enough to not have any regrets when I look back on it all.
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