Weightlifting: it's not only for hulks

By DAVID BURKE WEIGHTLIFTING. Does the word make you think of very strong, muscly men in lycra lifting huge weights for a few seconds and then dropping them? Of course it does. But when a new sports club gets going in Tuam, Galway and Oranmore, the word will soon be out that weightlifting can be for everyone.[private] Yes, everyone, and that includes women and children. Kevin Darcy from Lodge, on the borders of Headford and Caherlistrane parishes, has represented Ireland at many international competitions. Well-built and trim, he is the living proof that lifting weights does not turn you into the Incredible Hulk. What's more, in addition to being an internationally competitive weightlifter, he is also a certified strength and conditioning coach, and a chartered physiotherapist. So he's not the kind of person to have you doing anything dangerous. Kevin aims to start a new weightlifting club along with fellow weightlifter Mike Conroy from Carraroe. Their aims are to nurture young weightlifters, and get the really good ones to Olympic standard. Olympic weightlifting is a sport that requires general fitness, a lot of flexibility, and sophisticated technique. But at the level of the ordinary person who just wants to stay fit, practising the techniques and using lighter weights can be very beneficial. Older people are now being encouraged to do weight-bearing exercises to maintain joint strength and flexibility. Such exercises are particularly important for women in the prevention of osteoporosis (weakening of the bones) in later life. And there is no danger that women will get 'muscly' if they train with weights. Kevin says their hormonal make-up doesn't allow that. The most they can be is toned, and that takes a lot of regular and focussed work. Children can learn the rudiments of weightlifting when they are quite young, lifting nothing heavier than a broom handle. By the time they are ready to lift weights, as teenagers, they will have gained flexibility and technique and be ready to compete. Kevin is now a national coach for Ireland, and has been co-opted on to the executive committee of Weightlifting Ireland, the national body that regulates the sport. He is just back from a competition in Israel where an Irish under-20 team did very well. This is a stage on the road to Rio, where the next Olympics will be held. Ireland just failed to qualify for the London Olympics, and Kevin, at the time the top lifter in the country, would have been representing us. Now retired from the competitive sport at 27, he wants to build a strong Irish team for the future. Who knows, perhaps one of the boys and girls who join the new club when it starts in January could be wearing the green, white and orange in an Olympic stadium some day. Kevin Darcy can be contacted at 085 1060 869 or darcysportsphysio@gmail.com.[/private]