Former Olympic weight lifter strengthens Stewart Soldiers’ fitness capabilities

Photo By Sgt. Sarah Bailey | Former Olympic weight lifter Anna Martin, along with Stewart Venable (left), demonstrate proper lifting techniques during a weight-lifting clinic held at the fitness center on the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Complex, March 31.  

FORT STEWART, GA, UNITED STATES

04.04.2012

Story by Maj. Tiffany Collins 

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORT STEWART, Ga. — Fort Stewart soldiers got the opportunity to bulk up their fitness knowledge, March 31. Former Olympic competitor Anna Martin hosted a weight-lifting clinic at the fitness center on the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division complex.

Martin, who began lifting weights at age 14, represented Team USA as the first alternate weight lifter in the 2004 Olympic Trials and lifted in the 2006 World Team Trials. She has competed for the U.S. twice in Mexico City and Guatemala City; taking second place in the Mexico City Olympic Festival.

During the Fort Stewart clinic, Martin, along with her athlete, Stewart Venable, demonstrated proper weight lifting techniques of the ‘Snatch’ and ‘Clean and Jerk’—both of which are Olympic events. The two explained just how crucial proper lifting procedures are--not only for safety purposes, but that it helps to build more power to move more weight.

For many soldiers, lifting heavy loads is part of their daily routine.

"These Olympic lifts are the basis to many of the functional movements we perform on a daily basis,” said Spc. Julissa Rabe, Company C, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, who attended the clinic. “As a medic, we have to lift patients over our heads and carry them for long distances. Moves like the ‘Clean and Jerk’ help me build the strength and allow me to perform my job better."

2nd Lt. Josiah Allen, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 703rd BSB, said that though he has been a lifter throughout high school and college, the clinic was very informative.

“A lot of these techniques carry over into CrossFit, and learning the proper techniques will lower people's risk of injury," he said.

After the demonstrations, the soldiers then tried their hand at the new techniques learned while the two professional athletes critiqued them.

• Date Taken: 04.04.2012
• Date Posted: 04.17.2012 10:13
• Story ID: 86864
• Location: FORT STEWART, GA, US