Hail to the Dinosaurs!
I recently had the opportunity to talk with Artie Dreschler, the chair of USA Weightlifting's Board of Directors, the head weightlifting coach at New Yor's famed Lost Battalion Hall, and the author of The Weightlifting Encyclopedia. He also heads the Association of Oldetime Barbell and Strongmen, a fantastic organization dedicated to preserving the history of the Iron Game. (They host a terrific oldtimer's dinner every year, with one or more guests of honor -- it's great fun for fans of the Iron Game and old-school strongmen. For more info, go to http://www.weightlifting.org/aobs.htm )
During our conversation, Artie shared a story about Frank Spellman and Bob Hoffman. Frank Spellman won the gold medal in weightlifting in the 165 pound class at the 1948 Olympics. He's still alive -- and still training! -- and he's the USA's oldest living Olympic gold medalist in weightlifting.
Bob Hoffman was the coach of the United States Weightlifting team, and the founder and coach of the York Barbell Club. He was the editor and publisher of Strength and Health magazine, and the owner of the York Barbell Company. Back then, Hoffman paid the cost of sending the USA weightlifters to the World Championships and the Olympic Games. If it hadn't been for his support, many of our World and Olympic champions might never have had a chance to compete on the international stage.
Now, you can imagine how hard-working and dedicated a man like Spellman was. You don't win an Olympic gold medal by playing around!
And similarly, you can imagine how dedicated Hoffman was to American weightlifting.
Now, here's how dedicated to the sport of weightlifitng these men were.
Sometime in the 1950's, Spellman moved back to York and attempted a comeback. His goal was to make the USA weightlifitng team for the upcoming Olympic Games.To support himself, he got a job working at a local factory. Unfortunately, he was assigned to the night shift. That meant he couldn't train with the other members of the York barbell Club when they hit the iron at the end of their regular workday.
But that didn't stop Frank Spellman. He went to Bob Hoffman and asked for a key to the building so he could train on his own after work -- at 2:00 in the morning.
Hoffman nodded his head.
"Of course, Frank," he said.
And he handed him a key.
It was a long work day for both men. Hoffman typically worked ten or twelve hours a day. He had to. It was the only way he could stay on top of his duties and responsibilities as the owner of the York Barbell Company and as editor and publisher of Strength and Health (for which he wrote many of the articles every month). And after work was over, he spent several hours in the gym, coaching the members of the York Barbell Team.
At 2:00 in the morning, Frank Spellman unlocked the back door to the building, stepped inside, and made his way to the York Barbell Club gym.
He opened the door and stepped inside -- and got the suprise of his life!
Bob Hoffman was sitting on a bench by the back wall.
"Bob! What are you doing here?" asked Frank.
"I thought you might like some company," said Hoffman. "No one deserves to train alone at 2:00 in the morning."
And for many months, the two men met in the gym at 2:00 in the morning. Spellman trained, and Hoffman coached him, helped him load the bar, and offered companionship, encouragement and support.
That was called dedication. You spell it with a capital "D" -- and it always come from deep in the heart. And all champions have it.
As always, thanks for reading and have a great day. If you train today, make it a good one.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. We're in the middle of the big pre-publication special for my new book, Dinosaur Dumbbell Training. Read about it right here:
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P.S. 2. Save major clams on shipping and handling by ordering two or mote Dinosaur Training books and courses (or other Dino goodies) at the same time. You can find them right here at Dino Headquarters:
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P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "A champion is someone who finds the will to win and a way to do it." -- Brooks Kubik
