Male

17

Waukegan, Illinois, United States

I began at around the age of 13, although my intentions weren't as serious as I have today, I was naturally & instantly curious with the sport of bodybuilding, & especially olympic weightlifting, due to my older brother's lenghty experience in both. As soon as I noticed his complexion, & physical stature completely evolve into something rather fashioned out of a Michelangelo carved statue, I soon decided to pick up some weights. At home I had almost an entire set of weights to help my likings with: -Dumbbells 2.5-100 pds. -Barbells-(Both straight & 1 EZ curl)Some fashioned pre 80's-90's -Bumper plates -Rubber mats -A incline/decline bench (a mid 90's fashioned bench which is still highly versatile due to it's capability of being used as a sit up bench) -A roman chair with a pull up bar & dip handles -A few mounted mirrors -..and of course a small sound system (which is basically an old jukebox hahaha) Although my brother has almost completely stopped competing in OLY weightlifting, I picked up where he left off, competing & training in the same venues as he did during his heyday, & with the same 'lines on their faces & hands like rubber' trainers. You see, both my brother, & myself trained in a style mirroring Lou Ferrigno during the Pumping Iron movie (As Arnold trained in the 'brightly lit gym' whilst Lou trained in the 'Batcave basement styled gym'). Now, as soon as I picked up my first weight, I suddenly began mimicking the style of my brother, & the movements he performed with the weights (with lighter weights of course), beggining with the least complicated movements such as bicep curls, tricep extensions, shoulder raises, sit ups, lower back extensions, calve raises, squats, etc. After about 5-6 months of experimenting with the weights, I noticed a change in my motivational, physical skills, & mental skills. I was prepared to begin the journey. I decided to ask my father if he may accompany me to the local OLY lifting center & subscribe me on their local youth team for training, & he happily complied. Months passed, days in & out of this gym, learning the most advanced of movements: -Clean & Jerk -Clean & Press -Overhead squats -Front squats -Deadlifts I had become what I have always wanted to be, & the moment (or I should say the day) I finally was able to hold 135 pds. overhead I can rememeber to this day...I was happier than a kid who just won a sweeptstakes! Today, I am slightly divided on continuing OLY lifting, competing in bodybuilding, or pursuing a different sport (cross country/wrestling/track). Although i've been lifting for quite a while, I began losing weight just the past year, I went from 180 pds. to 150-ish, greatly reduced my bodyfat % for good!

It's the most gratifying of activities to partake in, both physically & mentally. If you want to stay out of trouble, this is a sport you should focus on, it'll keep you away from drugs, violence, gangs, etc. It'll habitually wipe the slate clean from your image & persona!

Continually returning to the gym & seeing the barbells, dumbbells, & all other machines just waiting to be used!

-Northern Illinois OLY Lifting Competition 16th(out of 50 competitors)(2005)(First competition I competed in) -Spring Upstate OLY weightlifting 4th(out of 16 competing teams)(2005) -Northeastern Illinois Youth OLY Weightlifting Invitational 3rd place (out of 15 teams) -State Youth Olympic Weightlifting 3rd place champions (out of 14 state teams)(2005) -Frosh/Soph OLY Competition 6th place ribbon (out of 20 competitors)(2007) -YMCA Bench Press Competition (4th place max reps w/ 135 bench press/ 29 reps)(3rd place Max bench in weight class of 150 bodyweight/265 pds)(5th place max squat/325 pds) -Illinois State Competitive OLY lifting champions 2nd place (out of 20 teams) (2008) -Summer Upstate OLY weightlifting 1st (out of 16 competing teams)(2008) -Lake County Challenge 4th(total 50 competitors) 2008 -Cross Country state sectionals (for the first time in 8 years for our city) Average time: 19:10 Fastest: 18:25 Average track times: 100m - 10.22 200m - 21.72 400m - 50.19 800m - 1:58.18 1600m- 4:30.36 *Just a few quick stats, will update soon!

.:MiscMarioBrahs:. More AVI's than HeatherAC and ironm!ke reps:partyka293,BRUTUSPLAC,Haithem negs: