http://vimeo.com/131059717
So we head out of our house Friday afternoon and did not arrive at our hotel in Wales till Saturday morning. I'd say that we got to see the sunrise but I'm not really for sure if the sun ever goes down in Wales.
We were freezing cold and caught the 0530 train from Manchester to Bangor, Wales. Actually while we were waiting at the airport we sat next to a woman that downed a bottle of wine before getting on her flight at the airport.
Arrived at the hotel (three rooms in the Bed and Breakfast) and they cooked us breakfast. Walked around the area a little (to gather snacks), took a nap, and then went across the street to eat. Well, some of us slept at the table!
Filled up on food and back to bed because tomorrow we go register in the morning and compete in the afternoon.
The training hall and competition area was great! Very smoothly run and the largest Europeans EVER! More than 400 athletes and they were not only on time but they were actually ahead of schedule all day.
Weighed in (still losing weight) and got to the warm up area when her class was given the "go ahead".
We had openers in our mind. Open light, hit a PR on 2nds, go for it all on 3rds. Warm ups felt good. This is where I'll tell you that coaching Weightlifting is nothing like being a coach at a Powerlifting meet or at a Strongman show! We have to time our warm ups with the weight that is currently on the bar AS WELL AS all of the athletes making last second bar weight changes. You can go from 6 out to "you are up" in less than 2 minutes! We did everything right.
1st attempt: 45 kg, easy three white lights. She was unstead but most openers are. This was a 2kg pr over her 3rd attempt last year at Europeans.
2nd: 50 kg, better lift and three whites
3rd: this was just for HER so we put 55 on the bar. She had both missed and made this in training. The video doesn't show it as well as it looked live but she got 3 reds for elbows.
5 minute break and we began warming up for clean and jerk. This is where I get nervous as she actually broke a bone in her hand 4 days prior to competition and it had been hurting non-stop. We taped it up, took it off, taped it again. I just wanted her to make her opener to get a total and then we could move on. She could then step away from the competition with a PR total and a total to put on the table.
1st: 55: three white lights and easy
2nd: 60 kg, three white lights and even better
3rd: 63 kg and a 2 kg PR, three whites!
She walked away with a hand and arm the size of mine, bruises everywhere, a PR on both lifts and a PR total as well as a freaking Silver Medal!
My son stayed awake just long enough to watch mom lift and then he "held down the fort" at the Eleiko Booth.
Back to the hotel and what do you think a woman with a silver medal does afterwards?
And then we prepare for our trip to The USA!