Chapter 65: Curtain Call Competitions
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Using the fat loss exercises, Dai Li really began helping Aiguo Jiang lose weight. Because Li didn't want Jiang to lose too much muscle, the best course of action was to get rid of the fat while maintaining as much as they could. This way, Jiang could keep as much of his formal strength and explosive power as possible.
Jiang had traditionally trained for the 69kg weight class, but he was not among the best on the team because of his age. However, if he trained for the 62kg weight class, he would have clear advantages. The difference between the two weight classes were completely different. In the 69kg weight class, the top athlete's record for the snatch and the clean and jerk would be over 350kg in total. However, an athlete in the 62kg weight class could only lift 320kg, which was a difference of 30kg. Even average athletes of the 69kg weight class could easily beat the athletes of the 62kg weight class.
If Jiang could take part in the competition for the 62kg weight class as an athlete who had the ability of someone in the 69kg, there was no doubt that he would get a good result.
It was impossible to lose weight while maintaining all the muscle. There was a limit to how low a body fat percentage could be. It was quite hard to lower that percentage once it reached a certain number.
For normal adults, the average percentage was 15% to 18% for men, and 25% to 28% for women. In today's society, only people who worked out consistently could reach the standard. Appearance-wise, the pectorals were visible when a man's body fat percentage was under 20%. When it was below 15%, one could vaguely see the six or eight abdominal muscles on the stomach. When the number was below 12%, the muscles would be not only visible, but very attractive to other people. However, if it was under 10%, the muscles would seem too dry, which could make others find the person not so beautiful.
Weightlifting was a sport that required strength, skill, and balance. Strength only helped athletes lift weights. Besides that, all that mattered was balance. That was why weightlifting athletes didn't have to pursue a perfect body fat percentage. Many top athletes were actually considered fat by most.
As for Jiang, his body rate percentage was a little higher than that of the young men on the team because he was older than them. The fat loss exercises would work quite well for him. Generally speaking, however, the efficiency of the fat loss exercises were much lower than the weight loss exercises.
Losing weight became daily training for Dai Li and Aiguo Jiang. During the process, more and more people on the weightlifting team found Li and Jiang doing the same broadcast exercises for most of their training time. They all found it weird because they knew that broadcast exercises couldn't help professional athletes with significant physical ability.
Although they found it odd, no one disturbed them. Jiang was an athlete with more than 10 years of experience after all. They knew the weightlifting team would begin expelling athletes and that Jiang was one of the names on the list. There was no need to be strict with someone who was likely leaving. He should be able to do whatever he wanted!
…
"I'm finally under 66kg!" Jiang stepped off the scale looking very relieved.
After being weighed in his clothes, he found that his weight was below 66kg, which meant Jiang qualified for the 62kg weight class. Even though there was still a 4kg difference, he could definitely reach the mark before the weigh-in by taking off his clothes, as well as not eating or drinking before the competition.
Li gave a sigh of relief and said, "We're lucky to have made it. There are only two weeks left. The sign-ups are about to begin. My big bro, you should go to Coach Song immediately, since you have to sign up and take part in the competition this time."
"I'm going right now," Jiang nodded. However, he still seemed very disturbed and asked, "I still feel indecisive. What if he rejects me? Could you please come with me?"
"I think he will agree seeing as there are no athletes in the 62kg weight class. The games will be held in Qing City also, which means we will be competing on our home field. The team will take full advantage of this opportunity and send as many athletes as possible," Li said.
"I guess that makes sense. I hope Coach Song will think the same way," Jiang said.
…
Guangyi Ma walked into Guangming Song's office in a hurry.
"Coach, I heard that you agreed to let Jiang take part in the national weightlifting championship in Qing City?" Guangyi Ma asked.
Guangming Song nodded, "Yes, I did. What is the problem?"
"Coach, Jiang is too old for that. He has no longer has potential. I think we would be better off saving this chance for younger athletes like Liang Peng and Dongshan Cao," Guangyi Ma said.
"They will join too," Guangming Song agreed.
Ma hesitated a bit, then asked cautiously, "Even though it's on our home field this time, wouldn't it break the rules if we send three athletes for the same weight class? The other teams might gossip about us."
"Haha, Ma, you misunderstood me." Song waved his hand and continued, "Liang Peng and Dongshan Cao will take part in the games for the 69kg weight class, while Aiguo Jiang will go for the 62kg."
"Aiguo Jiang? 62kg weight class?" Ma was lost. The day Jiang joined, he was an athlete of the 69kg weight class. It had been more than ten years. How could he have become part of the 62kg weight class all of a sudden when he was about to retire?
Guangming Song continued, "Jiang worked very hard to lose a few kilos these last few days. His weight is already under 66kg, which means he is qualified to take part in the competition."
"What about his strength? He must have lost so much muscle since he dropped a few kilos. He will not be able to adjust himself to the 62kg weight class in such a short time," Ma added.
"I understand your concerns. But because there is no athlete in 62kg weight class on our team, why don't we send him and try? The game is in our city also, so there will not be any extra cost to send one more athlete." He sighed and said, "Besides, you must know about what happened with his family. There will be a few more surgeries for his daughter because she has a cleft lip. That is going to be a lot of money, which will torture him. This veteran has worked for more than ten years. Let's see this national championship as his curtain call!"
"Curtain call…" Ma repeated the words. All that popped up into his mind was the gossip about him being expelled from before. He finally understood that Jiang would be asked to leave after this championship.