Interview with former 1968 Olympian

[srh]

Rather brief but interesting article on Bob Bartholomew who lifted in the 1968 Olympics in the old 198 class.

http://www.nysportsday.com/news/oly/1124786657.html

Randy (srh)

[Marty]

I can't get it to appear - what's the gist?

[srh]

http://www.nysportsday.com/news/oly/1124786657.html

I repaste it for you to try again.

If not the key points to the article were:

The article was from a local paper where he now lives. He is 69 and does not train with weights anymore but still exercises. He stated we are so short of OL lifters due to the fact they go into power lifting or other sports. He mentioned that he left his best training at Colorado Springs and should have finished 4th at the games if had totaled his best. He stated also, that the high altitude training in Colorado for a week did little to help him.

[Old Olympic Lifter]

Hi Randy
Thanks for the website link,it was great to read about Bob Bartholomew as I hadn't heard anything of him since he faded off the competitive scene after his appearance at the 1968 Olympics.
Bartholomew was one of those rare breed of lifters like Dave Ashman and Lou Riecke,a split snatcher and squat cleaner.Although a veteran by that time (32 years old),he edged out several more highly favoured lifters like Frank Capsouras,Gary Glenney,Chuck Nootens and Bill Starr in the 90kg class at the 1968 Olympic trials to gain a place in the team for Mexico City.His lifts of 160,127.5,182.5 for a total of 470kgs gave him second placing behind National champion Phil Grippaldi on 170,140,182.5-492.5.I believe that the press,clean & jerk,and total were all career bests for Bartholomew - his weak lift was always the snatch,on which he was normally only capable of around 70% of his clean & jerk.I feel that he may have been a little over optimistic though in hoping to place fourth at the Olympics,as sixth place there required a 482.5 total and Grippaldi finished seventh on 'only' 477.5 due to very strict judging on the press - Bob was ninth with lifts of 155,125,177.5-457.5.

Regards and best wishes
Ron