SBJ Live From Tokyo
USA Weightlifting has not won a medal at an Olympics since the '84 L.A. games, but there is "optimism that the Americans have put together a solid core for the future," according to Jim Chairusmi of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Five of the eight U.S. team members "are 25 or younger," and Team USA is on an "aggressive recruiting drive to poach former college and even high school athletes from other sports." The program is going "hard after athletes whose careers are in transition." USA Weightlifting CEO Phil Andrews said that "gymnasts, cheerleaders and tumblers have proven especially adept at making the move to weightlifting." While the U.S. team for the Tokyo Games mostly found the sport on their own, Andrews said that he has "seen some of the organization’s recruiting efforts pay off at the lower levels" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/29).
