Daily Archives: December 15, 2021

Shaun White believes his bid for a fifth Olympics will also be his last.

White, trying to become the oldest male Olympic halfpipe rider in history at age 35, recently revealed that he plans to make his farewell to Olympic competition at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, assuming he qualifies.

This is, I think, my last run, White said in an interview clip that aired on TODAY on Wednesday. Its hard to talk about because my whole life Ive kind of been looked at as somewhat superhuman because I do these things [in the halfpipe]. Ive prided myself on being that individual, and, man, realizing and admitting to myself and everyone else, Im human, its taken a toll.

White previously teased the lure of the 2026 Olympics in Italy, where he made his five-rings debut as a 19-year-old in 2006.

Since, hes won three gold medals and cemented himself as a Winter Games legend.

After his last Olympic title in 2018, White took three years off from halfpipe competition, by far the longest break of his career.

After my performance in Korea, I just feel like everythings this awesome bonus situation, he said last month.

He returned earlier this year and placed fourth and eighth in two contests putting him in decent position for a U.S. Olympic spot but trailing the medal favorites from Japan and Australia.

White competes again at this weeks Dew Tour in Copper Mountain, Colorado, the third of four Olympic qualifying events. A win would all but wrap up an Olympic berth.

Even if White struggles at Copper and the last qualifier in California next month, he would be a strong candidate for a committee selection in January.

Whites Olympic farewell announcement came 20 years to the week of his first time competing in an Olympic qualifier at age 15.

He missed the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games team by one spot in the last qualifying event. The man who beat him is now his coach,J.J. Thomas.

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Shaun White believes Beijing 2022 will be his last Olympics - Home of the Olympic Channel

With the Olympic games coming up soon in Beijing, spectators will become instant fans of all manner of sports, including those they might not otherwise be aware of. One of those sports: curling.

Besides being a competitive sport at the Olympic level, it's popular as an amateur sport, as well. Local experts say it's easy to learn, can be played by nearly anyone of any age and doesn't take a lot of money to get started.

Curlinghas been around theMilwaukee area for more than 100 years and iseven one of the oldest team sports,havingstarted in the 16th century in Scotland, according to the World Curling Federation.

Curling was introduced as an Olympic sport at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.

The Milwaukee Curling Club, based in Cedarburg, formed in 1845 and is the oldest curling club in the United States, said club president Jim Rasche. The Wauwatosa Curling Club is celebrating its 100-year anniversary, according to its website.

Curling will be played during the 2022 Winter Olympics, Feb 4.-20, where USA men's curling teamTeam Shuster, which includes John Shuster of Superior and Matt Hamilton of McFarland,will defend their gold medal.

More: Disabilities don't slow down these veterans, who are learning to curl at the Wauwatosa Curling Club

More: Winter Olympics gold medal for U.S. men boosts interest in curling in Wisconsin

But despite the sport's longevity, many people aren't familiar with the sport, said Tom Howell, a member of the Kettle Moraine Curling Club in Hartland.

Howell grew up playing the sport in New Jersey, competed competitively and made it tothe Olympic trial finals in 2017 and 2021before his team, Team Dropkin, lostto Team Shuster both times.

Howell, who is a member of the defending national curling champion team, plans to help his team defend its title during nationals from Jan. 2-9 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Howell, 27, saidhe and his team might also try to qualifyfor the 2026 winterOlympics.

Another goal: to help spread awareness of the sport.

Although he is an accomplished player, he finds it hard to describe the sport.

"It is a lot harder than it looks," he said. "I say it is like shuffleboard on ice crossed withchess on ice. You use a lot of smaller muscle groups."

Each of the four players on a team (the lead, the second, the vice and the skip) takes a turn slidinga 44-pound granite weight (the stone) down a sheet of icetowarda target area of four concentric circles.A traditional curling match lasts for10 ends, or rounds.

Only one team can score points per end. The team whose stone is closest to the center of the target gets the point;additional points are given to the scoring team based on stonepositions compared to the opponents' best stone position.

During the Olympics, you might notice an LED light flash on the stone, which indicates that the stone was released past the hog line. Competitors who step over the line are disqualified from the match.

Howell said that one thing people might not know about curling is how friendly it is. More than in any other sport, it'snatural for a curling team to bondwith its competitor, he said.

"With curling, when you play, it is natural to sit and talk with the other team. I played basketball, soccer andbasketball, and you don't know your opponents as well. You do not know them outside of the sport," said Howell, who lives in Shorewood and graduated from Marquette University.

"I think people don't know about the social aspect of the sport," he said.

In most leagues and tournaments, the custom is for the two competing teams tohave a drink or come together over a long table.But Howell admitted that when the sport gets more competitive such as during the Olympics and its trials that tradition is not kept as much.

Even then, though, Rasche said that every game, at all levels, begins and ends with both teams saying "Good curling" and giving the other team a firm handshake.

The winners often buy the losers a drink, he added.

"It is all about sportsmanship, and there is no showboating," said Rasche.

Craig Sharkus, who ownscurling supply storeRock on Curling,based out of the Kettle Moraine Curling Club, said people can learn the sport at almost any age and can play throughout their life.

"It is a sport for 6-year-olds to 96-year olds," he said. Sharkus, who played the sport for 44 years,said children as young as 4 or 5can start learning the sport, or people can pick it up as adults.

"It is a lifelong sport," he emphasized. He said regularly sees club members who play into their 90s.

Rasche said at the Milwaukee Curling Club, there are members in their 80s who regularly come.

"Curling is not a sport where one's prime is 16. There is a lot more longevity," Howell noted, adding thatmany Olympians are in their 20s tolate 30s.

An attractive quality of the game is that it takes little specialized equipment. Players can curl wearing tennis shoes, just slipping on rubbers over their shoes for more traction on the ice.

The curling club, itself, providesstones, brooms and all the other equipment.

"It is easy to get started," said Sharkus. "It is a nonphysical sport, and it relies on finesse."

Curling is also easily adapted to those with disabilities as one can still curl with walking aids or a wheelchair, saidSharkus. Because it is a noncontact sport, it is easy to do it at the recreational level.Wheelchair curling became a Paralympic sportin Torino in 2006.

Curling is also easy to pick up.

Michael Crowley of Waukesha tried curling after a work-related meeting was held at the Milwaukee Curling Club. After the meeting, he was asked if he wanted to try curling.

He admits he mightnot have been the most prepared to try any sport as he was wearing a suit and tie and dress shoes. But he did, and was impressed.

"I watched a few people, and I copied them," he said. "You need to have a delicate touch. I did pretty well. It is relaxing, requires patience, persistence and a keen eye for distance and speed.

"I saw some people there play in the 70s, 80s and 90s. This is a sport you can play your whole life and be social with. It brings people together."

"It can be the next bowling wave," he added. The way he sees it, curling would gain in popularity if the clubs were as common as bowling alleys.

"If I run into money, it would be phenomenal to invest in one. Waukesha needs something like this. It appears to be an easy sport to learn, and it is a fun, nonstressful event," he said.

While many people enjoy curling, it remains strictly an amateur sport. There are no college scholarships or professional teams where you get paid just to play, at least not in the United States, said Howell.

The sport mostly consists of leagues, invitationaltournaments andcompetitivetournaments calledbonspiels.

Howellsaid there is a national teamand a world curling tour that is very competitive. Getting on the national team takes a bit of luck and depends on how well your team is doing. It helps if your team is funded, he added.

Rasche said other countries have professional teams, but not in the United States. "We have volunteers. We (at the Milwaukee Curling Club) have a great group of volunteers. But we don't have a professional team, but U.S. won the gold (in the 2018 Olympics)," he said. "It is a great sport ... one of the best."

The Milwaukee Curling Club does a Learn to Curl series for a two-hour session for $30. Upcoming dates and times are 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 31; 1 to 3 p.m., 4 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 1 and 1 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 2.

To register, visitmilwaukeecurlingclub.com.

Wauwatosa has free Learn to Curl sessions, but the next ones scheduled has filled up. To see the schedule for upcoming events, visit wauwatosacurlingclub.com.

Racine Curling Club also has a Learn to Curl series. For an updated schedule, visit racinecurlingclub.com.

The Wauwatosa Curling Club has sessions for adaptive curling that are designed for people who need accommodations. It offersfree adaptive curling from 11 a.m. to noonJan. 8. To register, visitbit.ly/adaptivecurling.

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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With curling on the Olympic schedule, many local curlers want to build awareness of the sport. Here's what they want you to know. - Milwaukee Journal...

Vladimir Putin has confirmed he will attend the opening of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, an event that Boris Johnson and other western leaders have boycotted in protest at human rights abuses in China.

Putin made the pledge during a video call with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, as he said that a new model of cooperation has been formed between our countries, based on other matters of principles such as non-interference in [each others] internal affairs.

Russia and China are facing increasing pressure from the US and western countries as regional conflicts and human rights abuses have led to growing tensions.

The US, UK and Australia have said high-level officials will not be attending the winter Games owing largely to Chinas abuses of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang and crackdown on the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement.

Putin is seeking support in his growing conflict with the west over his military buildup near Ukraine. His promise to attend the Olympics would mark a rare trip overseas for the Covid-shy Russian president. He has travelled abroad only twice since the outbreak of the pandemic to Geneva in June to meet Joe Biden, and to New Delhi to meet the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi. Xi has not publicly left China since 2019.

As agreed, we will hold talks and then participate in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games, Putin told Xi during the meeting. While the two leaders are not allies and compete with one another for influence, they have found a common cause in resisting pressure over how they govern their countries.

The pledge came as a senior US official arrived in Moscow for talks with Russian diplomats. The US assistant secretary of state, Karen Donfried, had earlier travelled to Kyiv, where she told officials that under no circumstances would Washington press Ukraine into making concessions to Russia.

In Moscow she met the Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov. The meeting lasted an hour, during which Ryabkov said he would formally propose the security guarantees that Russia has sought from the US and Nato countries. In particular, Moscow has demanded guarantees that Ukraine will not join Nato and will not serve as a base for the military alliances infrastructure.

There has been a substantive discussion of security guarantees in light of the ongoing attempts of the United States and Nato at changing the military-political situation in Europe in their favour, the Russian foreign ministry said in a brief statement that gave no other details about the meeting.

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Putin assures Xi he will go to Winter Olympics in show of unity - The Guardian

1:01 PM ET

Greg WyshynskiESPN

Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin was named the general manager of the 2022 U.S. Olympic men's hockey team Tuesday, as concerns mount that NHL players may not participate in the Beijing Games.

Guerin acknowledged the challenges that may keep NHL players from appearing in the 2022 Winter Olympics, a right they pushed to have in their 2020 collective bargaining negotiations with the owners.

"It's been a crazy year. There are a lot of questions still out there. But our focus right now is to put together the best team that we possibly can and to compete for a gold medal," Guerin said. "And with the deep player pool that we have in the United States, we think that's capable."

Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey, said the organization received an updated playbook from the Beijing Olympic Committee that details the latest COVID-19 protocols and quarantine rules if an athlete tests positive while participating in the Winter Games. Kelleher said discussions are ongoing with the NHL and NHL Players' Association, as well as with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

"We're certainly hopeful that all systems will be 'go' when it's time to go to Beijing, but there's a lot of work to be done, a lot of moving parts," Kelleher said.

New York Rangers GM Chris Drury was named assistant general manager. He and Guerin were teammates on the 2002 and 2006 U.S. men's Olympic teams. John Vanbiesbrouck, assistant executive director of hockey operations at USA Hockey, will work with them in a player personnel capacity. Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan will be behind the bench in Beijing -- if the NHL participates.

The NHLPA is concerned about a number of coronavirus-related issues with the Olympics. Any player with a confirmed positive test must produce two negative tests that are 24 hours apart or the quarantine period can last from three to five weeks. Where that would take place, and whether a player could leave China rather than quarantining there, is among the issues the NHLPA is waiting for clarity on.

NHL players who contract COVID-19 during the Olympics will not be paid for games and practices they miss after the league's Olympic break. The International Ice Hockey Federation does have a $5 million fund to help players who are affected financially.

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner is the only player who has publicly pulled out of the Olympics, saying he would not join Team Sweden due to medical and mental health concerns.

Guerin said there is a possibility that U.S. players could do the same, but Drury noted that "to date, there hasn't been much talk about" Team USA players opting out.

"Our job is to make them feel comfortable about going," Guerin said. "The last thing we want to do is put anybody in harm's way."

USA Hockey's Plan B would be a combination of American Hockey League players, NCAA players and U.S.-born players competing in European leagues.

Guerin said 55 NHL players are under consideration for Team USA roster spots. Vegas Golden Knights star Jack Eichel could be one of them.

Eichel underwent artificial disk replacement surgery last month. His recovery time could allow him to play in the Olympics, where he would be the team's No. 2 center behind Auston Matthews.

"I've been in touch with Jack's agent, but the details on those conversations I have to keep between him and I," said Guerin, who wouldn't rule out Eichel playing for Team USA in Beijing.

Guerin's path to the Team USA job was rife with controversies. He was initially brought on by Stan Bowman, who stepped down as general manager hours after he "stepped aside" as GM and president of hockey operations of the Chicago Blackhawks in late October. The decision followed an investigation into how the Blackhawks handled sexual assault allegations against former video coach Brad Aldrich during its 2010 Stanley Cup run.

"There were definitely some unfortunate situations along the way," Guerin said. "Stan and I have remained in contact. Stan's a friend. He was doing a heck of a job, and I was proud to be on his staff. Unfortunately, things turned out the way they did, and here we are today.

"We have a job to do. We have to remain steadfast on that. We have to just focus on the hockey right now."

Guerin was also embroiled in a controversy stemming from his days as an assistant general manager with the Penguins. Former AHL assistant coach Jarrod Skalde filed a lawsuit against the Penguins in November 2020 that alleged former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins coach John "Clark" Donatelli sexually assaulted his wife Erin Skalde in 2018. Skalde further alleged that Guerin, who oversaw the AHL affiliate, told him to keep quiet about the situation when informed about it.

In November 2021, a law firm representing Erin Skalde announced plans to file a lawsuit against several individuals involved, including Guerin. But Jarrod and Erin Skalde have reached a resolution with the Penguins and announced that the legal matter "has come to satisfactory conclusion for all parties involved."

That situation led to a notable gap between Bowman stepping down and Guerin being formally named as Team USA general manager. SafeSport, a nonprofit committed to ending abuse in sports, has not completed its investigation into Guerin's actions.

"There have been some ups and downs, but today's is a very happy day. It's the chance of a lifetime," Guerin said.

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Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin in charge of U.S. hockey team, notes 'questions' about Olympic participation - ESPN

MOSCOW, December 15. /TASS/. The national team of Russian skiers will travel to Italy for a training camp ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Yelena Vyalbe, the head of the Russian Ski Association (RSA), told TASS on Wednesday.

"We hope that we will be provided with a direct flight from Milano to Beijing after the training camp," Vyalbe said. "There are currently not many flights on the offer."

The 2022 Winter Olympic Games in the Chinese capital of Beijing are scheduled to be held from February 4-20, while the Paralympic Winter Games will be held on March 4-13.

During the 128th IOC session in Kuala Lumpur on July 31, 2015, Beijing was chosen to host the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games making the Chinese capital the first city ever to host both the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games (in 2008) as well as the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games (in 2022).

Beijing won the right to host the 2022 Olympics and Paralympics in a tight race, beating Kazakhstans Almaty in 2015, by chalking up 44 votes against its rivals 40.

Read the original post:

Russian skiers to attend training camp in Italy ahead of 2022 Olympics in China - TASS

The 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing will feature a record number of publicly out LGBTQ athletes, and Outsports will be covering them all the way.

The Olympic Games will run Feb. 4 to Feb. 20, 2022.

In addition, issues of human rights and inclusion will also be front-and-center as part of the Olympic conversation. The host country of China has a record of human-rights abuses, and the country has no legal recognition for same-sex couples, and being transgender is considered a mental illness in the country.

China edged out Kazakhstan no better in regards to LGBTQ rights in the final vote to host these Games. There will be a record number of events 109 at these Winter Games.

The 2018 Winter Olympics featured 15 publicly out LGBTQ athletes, and there will be more than that in Beijing.

Incidentally, for those in the United States, it will be the first time the Winter Olympics overlapped with the Super Bowl.

Link:

LGBTQ athletes at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing - Outsports

In a little over two and a half years, the Summer Olympics will come to Paris. Organizers recently announced plans for what should be a visually stunning opening ceremony, and the blend of thrilling athletic competition with one of the worlds most iconic cities is decidedly appealing. Then theres the fact that if youre planning on attending the 2024 Olympics, you might be able to get around the city via flying taxi.A new article at Freethink notes that the city is planning to use electric flying taxis during the Olympics to more easily get competitors and attendees from one venue to another. Testing is set to begin within the coming months.

Groupe ADP (an abbreviation for Aroports de Paris) announced the plan last month, detailing two potential routes. The first would take passengers between the Issy-les-Moulineaux heliport and the Saint-Cyr airfield, while the second would run between Charles de Gaulle and Le Bourget airports.

According to Groupe ADPs release, 30 manufacturers are involved in the next stage of testing. Once thats complete, we should have a better idea of what to expect in terms of vehicles and capacity. This could be a bold shift in how some people get around cities; it might also be a temporary maneuver that doesnt scale outside of special events.

If this does come to fruition, however, well be one step closer to the reality depicted in SNLs Space Olympics. Heres hoping we can have electric flying taxis and space swords.

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We're Getting Electric Flying Taxis at the Paris Olympics - InsideHook

The Beijing Winter Olympics are fast approaching in February, and the buzz around who may or may not be selected for their countrys national team has already begun. Rudolfs Balcers is a lock for Latvia, and Timo Meier for Switzerland, but theres plenty of top-end talent to choose from when it comes to the North American national teams.

In my heart, Jonathan Dahlen and Erik Karlsson make Swedens roster (the Swedish scout has been in attendance for at least one San Jose Sharks game), but part of the fun of the Olympics is speculating who will be called up to represent their country.

With COVID cases rising, the ever-present risk of injury and the NHL already falling behind schedule with postponed games, its still possible that the league changes their mind and forbids players from participating in the Olympics.

In fact, the NHLs Board of Governors met on Dec. 9 and 10 to discuss NHL participation in the Olympics, among other docket items. For now, the league is still allowing players to report to their national teams, which means its the perfect time to flex my intuition and give my ideal rosters for the USA and Canada.

Forwards

Kyle Connor Auston Matthews* Blake WheelerBrady Tkachuk Patrick Kane* T.J. OshieJason Robertson Vincent Trochek Matthew TkachukAnders Lee Jack Eichel Joe Pavelski

Defenders

Seth Jones* Adam FoxJaccob Slavin Brett PesceCharlie McAvoy Alec Martinez

Goaltenders

Jack CampbellThatcher DemkoAlex Nedeljkovic

Forwards

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Connor McDavid* Mitch MarnerJonathan Huberdeau Sidney Crosby* Nate MackinnonBrad Marchand Patrice Bergeron Mark StoneZach Hyman Steven Stamkos Brendan Gallagher

Defenders

Cale Makar Alex Pietrangelo*Mackenzie Weegar Shea TheodoreMario Ferraro Dougie Hamilton

Goaltenders

James ReimerJordan BinningtonMackenzie Blackwood

*denotes confirmed players

Let us know in the comments what your Olympic roster projections are (and which Sharks players are on your teams).

No NHL games were scheduled for Dec. 13.

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San Jose Sharks News: Olympic mens hockey roster projections - Fear the Fin

Protesters hold placards and flags outside the Chinese embassy in London, on Dec. 9, 2021, after an independent, unofficial body, set up to assess evidence on Chinas alleged rights abuses against the Uyghur people, concluded that the Chinese government committed genocide and crimes against humanity. (Alberto Pezzali/AP)

Chinas treatment of its Uyghur minority could come before the courts in Argentina at about the same time that the Winter Olympics open on Feb. 4 in Beijing.

Michael Polak, a British lawyer representing the World Uyghur Congress and the Uyghur Human Rights Project, is preparing a universal jurisdiction criminal complaint to submit to the criminal courts of Argentina in February.

We think what we are doing in Argentina is the natural next step for moving towards justice, Polak told the Associated Press in an interview.

Last week, an unofficial body set up in Britain to assess evidence on Chinas alleged rights abuses against the Uyghur people concluded that the Chinese government committed genocide and crimes against humanity.

Additionally, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is expected to soon release a report on human rights in the Xinjiang region of northwestern China. In a statement, the U.N. said it had similarly identified patterns of arbitrary detention, coercive labor practices and an erosion of social and cultural rights. It also said it had been unable to gain unfettered access to the region.

Argentina agreed last month to hear a case against the Myanmar military involving the treatment of the minority Rohingya under the principle of universal jurisdiction. This principle holds that severe crimes can be tried in any jurisdiction.

There are universal jurisdiction provisions in different jurisdictions around the world, Polak said. But the Argentinian one is the most realistic because the courts are actually able to use it. And they are very keen on using it because of their own history. Realistically, the aim would be to bring these people before the Argentinian courts and for them to answer the allegations.

The internment of an estimated 1 million or more Uyghurs and other largely Muslim minorities in what China described as vocational training and education centers has also put the focus on Chinas treatment of Tibetans, the loss of civil liberties in Hong Kong, and restrictions on use of the Mongolian language in Chinas Inner Mongolia region.

The U.S. government and parliaments in Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada have declared that Beijings policies against the Uyghurs amount to genocide and crimes against humanity.

For the Uyghurs to swear their evidence in an Argentinian court is a huge moment, Polak said. We think it is realistic that arrest warrants can be issued and people can be arrested.

During the tribunal, about 30 witnesses and experts gave evidence at a series of public hearings in central London earlier this year, alleging torture, forced abortions, rape and beatings by authorities while in state detention centers. The hearings also reviewed numerous documents detailing other policies including the separation of young children from their families and widespread destruction of mosques.

The panel of lawyers, business people, and academics concluded that Chinas General Secretary Xi Jinping and other senior officials had primary responsibility for acts in Xinjiang.

The Chinese Embassy in London called the tribunal a political tool used by a few anti-China and separatist elements to deceive and mislead the public. The embassy said in a statement that the policies in Xinjiang were aimed at fighting terrorism and preventing radicalization.

A spokesperson for the Xinjiang region on Monday, anticipating the U.N. report, said we will absolutely not accept the so-called human rights investigation report.

We will not allow interference in Xinjiang affairs and Chinas internal affairs in the name of the so-called Xinjiang issues, spokesperson Xu Guixiang added.

Polak said he expects China to use political leverage and financial pressure in Argentina to stop the court case. The court has to first agree to hear the case. If it declines, there is an appeal process.

We think because of the strong evidence in our case, the Buenos Aires court should accept it and should investigate, Polak said.

Everywhere weve taken the Uyghur case around the world, China tries to step in and stop it from happening, Polak added. What weve seen of the Argentinian courts and their decisions, we think the courts are independent and will look at this and look at the evidence properly.

Polak said the Argentine government was sensitive to these cases, given what happened in Argentina during the 1976-83 military junta. Thousands were tortured, killed and forcibly disappeared in a government-sponsored crackdown on leftist dissidents during Argentinas so-called dirty war.

We hope that the politicians in Argentina and civil society will see the parallels and some of their struggles and support what we are doing, Polak said. Argentina has demonstrated this by prosecuting people within their own country.

Continued here:

As Beijing Olympics open, Uyghurs set to take rights case to court in Argentina - Stars and Stripes

Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Heavyweight wrestler Gable Steveson won gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

He attributes part of his success to the absence of any maxing out in his workout routine.

Maxing out is when a lifter will lift the highest possible weight they can for just one or two reps.

Heavyweight wrestler Gable Steveson credits his workout routine for his gold medal victory at the Tokyo Olympics, but he credits a workout he didn't do just as much.

The 21-year-old wrestler said he doesn't believe in maxing out in the weight room, which involves lifting the highest amount of weight possible for just one or two reps.

"There's really no point besides telling your friends that you lifted a certain amount," Stevenson told Insider, who was promoting his partnership with combat sports fitness brand Kill Cliff Fight Club. "Stuff like that is pointless and it could injure you."

Steveson, who wrestles as a student athlete at the University of Minnesota, said he used to max out, but quit the practice with his teammates two years ago.

The last time Steveson maxed out, he said he hit one rep of 375 pounds on the bench press. But he says maxing out with lower-body lifting is a much more dangerous practice.

"If your form is messed up then your back can get blown out," Steveson said. "We didn't want to risk, if I messed up my form or something, if I did mess up all the way, I could get a herniated disc. There's so much more that goes into it. We go heavy, but we try to stay away from excessive amounts of weight."

These days, Steveson said he and his teammates do their heavy weight lifting in sets of four reps, and not just two or three.

Celebrity sports trainer Mike Boyle agrees with this philosophy, and doesn't instruct any of his own clients to max out either.

"My philosophy is that as the number of reps goes down the injury risk goes up," Boyle told Insider. "We rarely do less than three reps and probably spend 80% of our time between 5 and 10 reps."

Story continues

Even former World's Strongest Man Hafthor Bjrnsson disagrees with a philosophy similar to maxing out.

Bjrnsson previously told Insider's Rachel Hosie that no on should train to failure when they workout, which is when you keep going until you physically cannot complete a rep.

"I never ever almost failed a lift in training sessions, you should always leave something in the tank in the gym," he said.

Read the original article on Insider

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A heavyweight wrestler who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics says he never maxes out in the weight room he can do everything he needs with lighter...