|
Wes Barnett, USA
|
| |
| Destination: |
|
Doug Pensinger
|
|
2000 Sydney Olympics weightlifting competition |
| Traveling from: |
|
Colorado Springs, Colo. |
|
Personal: |
| Age: |
30
|
| Height: |
6'1"
|
| |
Barnett went from the top of his career to the bottom within two years. In 1997,
he became the first American man in more than 20 years to win a world
championship medal (a bronze in the 108 kg (238 lbs) weight class). The
following year, a cancerous tumor was found behind his eye and he began
treatments, forcing him to miss the entire season. In 1999, he returned to
competition and won his sixth national title and earned his eighth trip to the
world championships, where he placed 15th.
|
| Achievements: |
| 1999 | World championships, total (105 kg),
15th |
| 1999 | National championships, 1st (105
kg) |
| 1999 | Pan Am Games, 3rd (105
kg) |
| 1997 | World championships: total, 3rd (108 kg); clean and jerk,
2nd |
| 1996 | Olympic Games, 6th (108
kg) |
| 1995 | World championships, 18th (108
kg) |
| 1995 | Pan Am Games, 1st (108
kg) |
| 1995 | National championships, 1st (108
kg) |
| 1994 | Goodwill Games, 4th (108
kg) |
| 1994 | National championships, 1st (108
kg) |
| 1994 | World championships, 20th (108
kg) |
| 1993 | National championships, 1st (108
kg) |
| 1993 | World championships, total, 7th (108
kg) |
| 1992 | National championships, 1st (108
kg)
|
| 1992 | Olympic Games, 13th (100 kg)
|
| 1991 | World championships, 12th (100
kg)
|
| 1991 | Pan Am Games, 2nd (100
kg)
|
| Currently: |
|
Barnett was forced to withdraw from the 2000 National
Championships -- he says it was to be his last -- when he strained his back on
his final snatch attempt of 170.0 kg. He considered making one lift in the
clean-and-jerk portion of the competition to post a total, but the pain was too
great. He decided not to risk more serious injury and instead focus on the
Olympic trials, scheduled for July
22.
|
