It all started in 1980, when a group of twelve International Sports Foundations decided to join forces and form the World Games Council. The purpose of the organization was to create a multi-sport event for sports that were not included in the Olympic games, to gain popularity, recognition and cultural exchange between people visiting from all over the world! The games are held every four years in the year following the Summer Olympics.
The 6th World Games in Akita City Japan, August 16-26, marked the first time in history Asia was chosen as host. The games were home to 3,250 athletes from 27 International Federations from 31 different athletic sports, with over 1500 managing staff and more than 4000 volunteers doing their part. All of these athletes were treated as no less than royalty! From the volunteers meeting and greeting us at the Tokyo Airport, the beautiful city dressed in flags of many colors, to the fine china and silver awaiting our arrival in the banquet rooms every morning. The Athletes Party and Opening Ceremonies were complete with 26,000 spectators, children, fine musicians, traditional dances, amazing cultural drums, and parachutes falling from the sky welcoming the flags of the world. Akita City performed a fantastic show of grandeur and perfection with the warmest welcome we have ever witnessed.
The Lifting
This exchange of international friendship crossed borders of race and language to unite 67 of the top powerlifing men and women in the world. The Wilk's formula ruled the results of these games with only three weight classes' verses the norm of ten.
Women 52.0 Kilo (114 lbs & under)
Raija Koskinen from Finland being one of the lightest in the class won the Gold with a PR total of 405.0 k (892.8 lbs), Silver went to Kuan-Ting Chen of Chinese Taipei who squatted a new Chinese record of 175 k (385.8 lbs) and a PR total of 420 k (925.9). Japans own Yukako Fukushima bronzed with a 407.5 k (898.3 lbs). Riita Liimatainen of Sweden was a very close fourth with only 1.5 points keeping her from the Bronze.
With a Wilk's total of 521.92, currently the best in the United States the young Jennifer Maile placed 8th with a PR's across the board (except the bench which was only the third best of the day) totaled 407.5 (898.3 lbs). Miss Maryland, Siouxz Hartwig weighing in at a light 49.6 (109.3 lbs) placed 9th with a PR squat of 150 k (336.9 lbs) and a PR total of 377.5 (832.2 lbs), also #3 in the Nation according to Wilks. Jackie Sandu our friend and Canadian representative placed 11th with a new PR total of 367k (809 lbs).
Women 65.0 kilo (143.3 lbs & under)
Miss Champion of champions Marina Kudinova once again mastered the iron, broke three World Records, and got the highest Wilk's formula of the games with 635.5 points. Second to this is Alexy Sivokon's Wilks he scored 626.4! She won the Gold with 620 k (1366.8 lbs)! Also representing Russia, Irina Abramova took the silver with a powerful 537.5 k (1184.9 lbs) finish. Finland's Pirjo Savola secured the Bronze with a 472.5(1041.6) winning over Germany's Birgit Fischers 492.5 k (1085.7 lbs) on body weight. Mrs. USAPL Angie Overdeer placed 8th with a solid 430 k (947.9 lbs), not her 440 k (970 lbs) from the Czech Republic but #4 in the Nation as far as Mr. Wilks is concerned is pretty nice. Returning to action after some back injuries, Sandy Mobley placed 9th and smoked the National Master squat, bench, and total record with a 422.5 k (931.4 lbs). Look forward to some fierce competition happening in Chicago! Maybe it was the luck of the Orient or a lifters will, but fortune was on Canadian Kim Dennis's side and she was able to compete in the games have a PR day in the squat and the total finishing 11th with a 360 k (793.6 lbs).
Women 65+ kilos (143.2 & up)
Weighing in at only 74.9 k (165.1 lbs) Russia's Svetlana Miklasevich acquired not only the Akita Gold but also a world record bench of 170 k (374.7 lbs), and totaled 605 k (1333.7 lbs)! 8 X's her bodyweight! Returning to the World stage, Russia's Natalia Payusova had a great day securing the silver with a PR bench and 625 k (1377.8 lbs) PR total. 1.1 points on the Wilk's chart only separated the fight between silver and bronze. Chinese Taipei's great Chen-Yeh Chow Bronzed with a PR squat and Total. Finishing a great day with 667.5 k (1471.5 lbs) the highest feminine total of games. Not only did Norway's Inger Blikra place 4th in the games with a new masters record in the bench 112.5 k (248 lbs), she also has a standing position on the USA Karaoke Team! Placing 6th Miss 9 for 9, PR's across the board, USA's Leslie Look had a fantastic day finishing with a 560 k (1234.5 lbs) total. Not to mention #2 in the Nation according to Wilks! Another powerful Iron Maiden, the master phenom, USA's Harriet Hall rewrote history and all four of her previous Master World Records placing 7th in the games with a 570 k (1256.6 lbs) total. Following in 8th place, USA's Liz Willett had a PR squat of 255 k (562.1 lbs) right behind Chen-Yeh Chao and total of 595 k (1311.7). A great 5 for 9 day!
The 21st of August was filled with many great ladies, fond memories and Personal records. Though the best is yet to come, when we meet again in Reisa Germany!
Men 67.5k (148.8 & under)
Pound for pound Kazakhstan's Alexey Sivokon is the strongest man on the international platform today! Weighing in at 67.5 (148.8) Sivokon brought home a World Record Bench of 217.5 (479.5 lbs) and the Akita gold with a 812.5 k (1791.2 lbs) a mere 12X his body weight. Russia's Konstantin Pavlov took the silver with a PR bench 172.5 (380.2 lbs) and total of 637.5 (1405.4 lbs). #3 of the day with a Wilk's of 582.35! With a PR squat 270 k (595.2 lbs) Russia's Mikail Andruchin bronzed with a 662.5 k (1460.5 lbs).
The lightest competitor of the day, USA's Ervin (Look at those ABS) Gainer with a PR total of 540 k (1190.4) placed 6th, with Taipei's Hsieh close behind. Taking 10th USA's Greg Simmons also had a PR deadlift 247.5 k (545.6 lbs) and total of 637.5 k (1405.4 lbs), second highest total of the class. Rounding out the class, new Japanese resident, USA's Justin Maile took some time from his military service duty's to represent his country on the powerlifting platform and still had a PR bench 137.5k (303.1 lbs) finishing the day with 610k (1324.9 lbs).
The 67.5 k class was also home to some great entertainers! Japan's Yakan Nabe ("Stew Pot") took 5th in the contest and later put on a comedy routine! Norway's 9th place Roy Brantzaeg, is not only strong, but to watch him lift would inspire powerlifters anywhere. A great showman!
Men 90 k (184.1 lbs & under)
What a great day for coach Vladimir Bogachev, Russia made a clean sweep of the medals in this class. Viktor Furashkin being the lightest of the class had a PR squat 310k (683.4 lbs) and won the Gold with a Wilk's of 588.2 points, #2 of the day. He totaled 822.5k (1813.2 lbs). Close behind was the infamous Andrey Tarasenko securing the silver with a 905 k (1995.1 lbs) total! 10X his bodyweight! Sergey Mor rounded out the sweep winning the Bronze with a PR squat 327.5k (722 lbs) and totaling 852.5k (1875.7 lbs). Not without a fight from Czech's Peter Theuser who had a PR squat and bench and tried to pull for the win on the third attempt deadlift. He finished 4th with an 875k (1929 lbs). USA's own Strength Coach extraordinaire; Robert Wagner ended up with a huge squat 335k (738.5 lbs) and the 3rd highest total in the class 83705k (1846.3 lbs) taking 7th in the World in the 90k according to Wilks!
Men 90k+ (198.4 & up)
Watching these Strength Giants is a sight to behold. Japan's own Daisuke Midote took the Gold on body weight with a PR Bench of 302.5k (666.8 lbs), total of 1027.5 (2265.2 lbs), and a Wilk total of 579.71! Coming into the games not feeling well, Multi National and last years IPF World Champ, USA's Brad Gillingham secured the silver with a PR squat 380k (837.7 lbs) and deadlift 382.5k (843.2 lbs) totaling 1027.5k (2265.2 lbs). A true champion on and off the platform, this is just the beginning of Brad's Story! Close behind (by .06 points on the Wilks), Sweden's own "Powerliftin" Jorgen Ljundberg (As the strongmen like to call him) won the Bronze with a PR squat 390k (859.7 lbs) and dead 355k (781.5 lbs), totaling a PR 982.5k (2166 lbs) weighing only 114.9k (253.3 lbs)! USA's Ray Benemerito and Tony Cardella had a great day up until the deadlifts. They both were strong enough just lost the grip on the top. Like the true champion's that they are, they left the venue with their heads held high knowing that this was just one of many test's on the World Platform.
Along with many personal records the games where home to 6 New IPF Open World Records! The ladies 52.k Bench Press Phenom Yukako Fukushima rewrote history with a 4th attempt press of 120k (264.5 lbs)!! Weighing only 47.3k (104.2 lbs)!! Russia's Marina Kudinova who is constantly changing her own records, had the highest World Record count of the contest. The Squat 247.5k (545.6 lbs), The Bench 148k (326.2 lbs), and a World Record Total of 620k (1366.8). In the 65+k Russia's Svetlana Miklasevich one of the best benchers in the world, she took home a WR of 170 k (374.7 lbs)! Kazahksatan's Alexey Sivokon also rewrote the history books with an amazing 217.5k (479.5 lbs) Bench Press weighing only 67.5 k (148.8 lbs)!
Making history in the Masters, Miss Kumi Kobayashi hit a World Record bench of 110 k (242.5lbs) at a light 55.1k (121.4 lbs)! USA's Miss "Crazy" Harriet set World Master Records across the board adding a 225 k (496 lb) squat, 132.5k (292.1 lb) bench, 212.5k (468.4 lb) deadlift, and a 570k (1256.6 lb) to her resume. All at the young age of 52!
The true strength behind all these great lifters are the coaches, and medical staff! Enough is never said about the time, effort and money they use to get us underneath that bar.
Larry Maile, Ron Burnett, Mike Hartle, Mike Overdeer,Camille D'Amato, Bernie Miller, PJ Couvillion, and a special thanks to German Coach Frank Mueller for being my hands on. You all did a fantastic job! A special thanks to Kazumeir Ito, Susumu and Hisako Yoshida, Akita City and the IPF congress. This contest was the closest to perfection that I have ever witnessed. It was mentioned that the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) were present, and offered the IPF to be one of the first international federations to sign a contract with WADA. This will hopefully bring us one step closer to IOC recognition.
In the end, The 6th World Games guided by the Nama-hage (Huggie meaning "from Hug" & Nummy meaning "number of people") ended with Russia winning the medal count with 44 total medals (24 Gold, 15 Silver, 5 Bronze). The United States placed second with 31 total medals (15 Gold, 8 Silver, 8 Bronze). Third place went to France with a count of 12 Gold, 5 Bronze, and 6 Silver.
As always the "Big Show" created memories that will span many years and many international friendships through strength and power. I hope that this story finds you and yours safe and sound. God Bless!
Participants Comments:
Canada's Kim Dennis
AMAZING is the word which keeps coming to mind when I am asked about my trip to Akita, Japan for the World Games! Jackie Sandu and I enjoyed our time in Tokyo before we arrived in Akita, but we could not have been prepared for how super the World Games were set up and run.
We were glad to be a part of a team that had such a wonderful people on it. The coaches were very thorough, organized and enthusiastic. They handled us very well during the lifting, and were fun to be around throughout our time in Akita. It was a real treat to have the three chiropractors on board also. Their treatments were greatly apreciated! Our teammates were friendly and we had a great time with all of you--whether it was walking around town, at the venue,singing karaoke, or out at Yoshi's.
Thanks for the wonderful time and great memories! I hope we have a chance to meet, travel and compete together again!
Kim Dennis
USA's Ron Burnett
The world games to me was a wonderful sight, now looking back on it some weeks later,it has come to me .that there is no greater.
We went there as strangers not all did we know,but the felling I got started to grow. I found new friends some lifters some not,they were there for a reason, not knowing just what.while I went there a lifter once young but now old. I helped and I coached some young some old.We grew together to find our lives goal.while visiting a foreign country and looking for the GOLD.The people that lived there,quite different from us,harbored honor and Integrity while taking care of us.they feed us they housed us they took us from place to place all with out remorse and with a smile on there face. There children at the opening ceremonies were shi,meek and mild. so happy to be there they made me fell like a child.We exchanged gifts and candy and talked (well what I could) but they new what a smile meant and even understood.the people them selves worked tirelessly on huge rope made of grass to show the world ,they to had class.they brought the two ropes ends together to show its true size. Indeed it was huge and to alls surprise they tied the ends together ,with many grunts and groans. to unite this world both the young and the old .
NOW LET THE GAMES BEGIN !
I give thanks to a great coach and friend Larry Maile for asking me to go. the new found friends in the lifters and coaches was indeed a great life time experience and honor.
Ron Burnett
A Few Assorted Photos from Akita
(Thanks to Liz Willet for the photos)
(Thanks to Liz Willet for the photos)
