For those interested.  Started early this week, but now they're getting into the heavy categories through the weekend.  Might see some crazy lifting and some new world records.

Team USA off to a tough start.  Team points will decide how many spots each country will get in Rio in '16.
Derrick Johnson - 62kg - 14th
Travis Cooper - 77kg - 20th
James Tatum - 77kg - Bombed

Morghan King - 48kg - 11th
Cortney Batchelor - 58kg - 20th
Geralee Vega - 63kg - 17th

Too bad for Tatum, went from a 150 to 158 snatch for the US record and missed then bombed the clean and jerk.

Best all around coverage and links to live feeds:
http://www.allthingsgym.com/

Some highlights so far.



Klokov decided to take 200 for a ride in the training hall, fuck....

Nice. Thanks man. I saw that 200kg snatch earlier...damn.

85kg A Group



One of the most competitive classes this year.  Even Milko finished 41st.  Went 137/168 in the D group.

I didn't know Tatum bombed. That guy is strong. Strong strong strong.

And only been lifting since '11.  Hope he stays healthy and him and Cooper push each other to the world stage.

Oooohhhh.  Just saw Tatum's C&J attempt.  Scroll down to second post:
http://wlforums.com/forums/showthread.php?67-The-Video-Thread/page68


EDIT:

Colin Burns - 94kg went 169/193 - 362 for 14th and a new American snatch record

Great thread! I'm a weakling.

94 A Group

Now with more backflips.  

This would be my weight class.


I suck at life

Shit, I'd have trouble going up against the 48kg women.......

The 94's really go to show you can snatch big all you want but all bets are off when someone puts up a monster clean and jerk.

I'm watching the 48kg women now. So far I have them all beat...but not by much. We'll just pretend like I don't weigh 75 more pounds than them

ETA- Also I am in love with the 48kg women.

Yes, all of them. Assuming over 18.

ETA2- Also the 53kg women

You see Burns Snatch (169kg)?...  go america and prior University of Michigan strength coach...

'Merica!  Awesome lift.



Glad he took the record from Vardanian, Norik is a great lifter but belongs under an Armenian flag.

Even better is the Kendrick Ferris butthurt.  Colin beat Ferris at the American Open this year and then Ferris was made an alternate for the World's to make room for Davis and Osorio as 105's.  I guess Ferris did a live feed session from his home while the 94's lifted yesterday.

EDIT:
105's from last night
   

EDIT2:
That was an awesome session, doesn't get much better than that.

EDIT3:
Spoiler alert, but this is a great vid, just watch the crowd (guess you can't embed instagram )
http://instagram.com/p/vbfSdVMvbs/?modal=true

What is the Kendrick Farris butthurt your talking about? I've heard the guy on the Barbell Shrugged podcast and he seemed super cool and down to earth.

That 242kg lift by Illya is awesome. Whenever I try and explain to people why olympic lifting requires so much skill and speed I show them his lifts because he moves at such a lightning speed. Im sure hes not actually moving faster than anyone else at that level but you can really see it in his technique.

Lifting in your home country, two consecutive world records before him and one do or die lift.  And now he's still undefeated in international competition.  That was a fucking amazing session.

Farris has made some very poor comments regarding international lifters and teams.  His "god bless the gym" and "kings of weightlifting" also have rubbed some the wrong way.  He's an American record holder and Olympian, but he peaked long ago as an 85.  I'm pretty sure Farris isn't really impressed with Ilyin's 242.