Hassle Free BBC

Chioma Amaechi Lights up Paris

Hassle Free BBC lifter and Cal Sophomore Chioma Amaechi recently traveled to Paris as part of Team USA's 14-member delegation at this year's World Weightlifting Championships. Chioma finished in 14th place with a 98kg Snatch, 140kg Clean & Jerk for 238kg total in the +75kg weight class. Chioma's 14th place finish turned out to be the second best performance by an American athlete and is a big step in her journey to make the 2012 US Olympic Team. To give you an idea of the level of Chioma's competition, the Gold medal winner in the women's +75kg class finished with a 146kg Snatch, 182kg C&J, 328kg total. Congratulations Chioma!

For Team USA only results - http://weightlifting.teamusa.org/news/2011/11/05/world-championships-results-from-paris/45356

For complete results - http://www.iwf.net/

Ian Wilson Named USA Today's Olympic Athlete of the Week

Following up on his silver medal at the Youth World Championships, Hassle Free BBC'c Ian Wilson was named USA Today's Olympic Athlete of the Week.

Wilson won silver medals in the Clean and Jerk and Total and is the first U.S. athlete to earn a medal at the prestigious event for the world's top 17&U weightlifters.

 For the complete USA Today article:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2011-05-17-aotw16_N.htm

 

It's not all work for HF lifters at the Olympic Training Center

 
Hassle Free had the honor of sending 5 of it's Junior lifters to the Olympic training Center in Colorado Springs over the Holiday break to train with Resident Coach Zygmunt Smalcerz. They joined OTC resident athlete and Hassle Free member, Donovan Ford, for about 4 weeks from  mid-December thru early January. While it was mostly hard work, there was time to relax and do some sightseeing with several other Olympic hopefuls. The Hassle Free lifters were Chioma Ameachi, Alex Lee, D'Angelo Osorio, Sae Vang, and Ian Wilson.

Governor Schwarzenegger and Tommy Kono visit the Sac High Weightroom

 

It was a historical day in the Sacramento High School Weightroom as two old friends, Governor Schwarzenegger and the legendary Tommy Kono (Sac High Alumni) reunited at the Sac High Gym to watch some of the best Junior Weightlifters in the USA, workout. Coach Paul Doherty and Coach Kari Shimomura had 50 athletes going heavy while the Governor and Tommy Kono hung out and visited with the students.

Governor Schwarzenegger described how that as a young 20-year old he watched Tommy Kono compete in the World Weightlifting Championships in Vienna and was so inspired by Kono’s strength and  physique that he redoubled his own training efforts.  This was the motivation that drove Arnold to win the Mr. Universe contest, which then led to his first visits to the United States.  Both Tommy and Governor Schwarzenegger talked directly to the kids about the positive effects of fitness, athletics, and academics in achieving success and happiness in life. They both used their own life stories to make the point.

The visit was in support of the upcoming Tommy Kono Open Weightlifting Championships taking place this Saturday, August 7, at Sacramento High School. The governor also pledged to help raise funds for the program that qualified more of its young athletes for the Junior World Weightlifting Championships this year than the club could afford to send.

For more pictures go to:

http://hasslefree.smugmug.com/Weightlifting/Kono-Schwarzenegger-SacHigh/13222007_H4tsj#960022593_vp2Mw

Hassle Free Sending 6 Athletes to World Championships

Hassle Free BBC is proud to be sending Donovan Ford to the Junior World Championships in Bucharest, Romania June-21. Donovan qualified as the #1 ranked 105kg, 20&Under lifter in the country by posting a 320 total at this years USA Junior Championships in Foster City, CA earlier this year. Donovan was 3rd overall on the Junior World rankings and easily qualified for the 8-man team.

 

The inaugural World Youth Championships are taking place from May 19-24 in Chiang Mai,Thailand and Hassle Free is the most represented club with five under-17 athletes making the US team, three men and two women. The US is sending a total of 20 athletes to Thailand and Hassle Free represents 20% of the team.

Ian Wilson - 85kg - 260kg Qualifying Total

 

 

Chioma Amaechi - 69+kg - 154kg Qualifying Total

 

Sae Vang - 56kg - 184kg Qualifying Total

 

Jenny Lam - 48kg - 105kg Qualifying Total

 

Brandell Sampson - 94+kg - 259 Qualifying Total

 

 

Congratulations to these great lifters and good luck in Romania and Thailand.

For complete USAW 20&U and 17&U Rankings:

http://weightlifting.usoc.org/content/index/1345

Hassle Free Needs Your Help

Hassle Free BBC is part of the non-profit organization, St. Hope Public Schools and is completely dependent on donations to operate. We don't receive any funding from the school and rely on annual fund raising and volunteer coaches to keep our program alive and growing. With this posting we're asking you to help us grow one of the most successful youth weightlifting programs in the US. Hassle Free BBC is continuing to evolve into an important contributor to the future success of USA Weightlifting.  With success comes growth and that means more costs. We are in the middle of our annual fund raising campaign and are asking for your help.

 

Please take the time to read the attached information letter and pledge form by following the link listed below.  Thanks in advance for your consideration and your commitment to our kids as they rise to meet new challenges each year.

 

Fundraiser Letter (Word Doc) - Download Fundraiser_2009_doc

Fundraiser Letter (PDF Doc) - Download Fundraiser Letter_2009_ver2.0

  

Thank you again and we hope to see you at our upcoming event.

Hassle Free Well Represented in US Weightlifting Team Rankings

The new USAW World Team Rankings were updated recently to reflect  the results from the recent US Junior National and Pan Am Qualifying meet held in Foster City, CA. Hassle Free was well represented with 6 athletes making their respective World Team. Congratulations are in order for these talented lifters as they prepare to travel half-way around the world to represent USA Weightlifting.

Dr. Randall Strossen Drops by to Photograph Hassle Free Sacramento in action

On Wednesday, April 1, Dr. Randall Strossen of Ironmind and Milo Magazine stopped by Sacramento High School to observe and photograph the Hassle Free Weightlifting team go through a typical daily workout. Not only did Coach Paul Doherty have his usual 3rd period PE class, but with permission of both principals and teachers we were able to get most of the Hassle Free Weightlifting team out of class to join in this very special occasion.

Our Sacramento Facility in Action

Below are a few pictures of our great facility in action. We have 14 Olympic lift platforms and are working to expand quarterly with Crossfit specific equipment to accommodate up to 100 athletes per day. Our strength and power training is based on the Olympic lifts (Clean & Jerk and Snatch) and their supplemental movements. We put heavy emphasis on Front and Back Squats, Dead Lifts, and Overhead Presses to build the base strength of every athlete. We are open 6 days a week.

Our metabolic workouts emphasize the Crossfit "Girls", with each workout accommodating 20-30 athletes.