Could Ryan Hall also make the Olympics in weight lifting

Similitude wrote:

Also, is there a legitimate reason Mak is doing those , what, 10% squats? Doesn't seem like he's going deep enough to see any benefit and the weight is clearly way too heavy for him.

It might do some good. I know track coaches who intentionally have guys do 1/2 or 1/4 squats. You don't go below parallel when you're running. If you're not trying to get a full squat for a competition or something, there's no law that says you have to full depth.

I bench a lot more than I can squat. I have freakishly long legs and weird mechanics and I just can't do it. Back in the day I was a D1 high-jumper and I remember being able to "squat" more than the other jumpers, but I bet I wasn't going very deep. I'd never heard of there being a difference between a 1/4 squat and a squat and our coach never paid attention to what we did in the weight room. Now being old and inflexible, it takes me many warmup sets to get where I can do a full squat. I only go full squats and haven't tried a half squat in years, but I think I could at least beat the girls in my gym in half squat while they beat me in full squat.

Similitude wrote:

Similar situation here. Lifelong multi-sporter (running, cycling, climbing, etc.) and my squats have always sucked. I have big muscular looking legs that can carry me up mountains and broke tackles playing ruby, but my squat PR is only 260, which is also my lifetime bench PR. My dead lift PR is 365. None are great, but that squat seems terrible. Started a minimalist lifting program (Tactical barbell... 2 x week) to support cycling, running, cross country skiing, etc. 4 months ago after 4 months with no lifting, and am up to 205 x 3 bench, 230 x 3 squat, and 305 x 3 dead lift. Again, none are great, but it seems like there should be a bigger gap between squat and bench press.

A 100lb diff between squat and dead is actually pretty normal if you have normal proportions and height. 500, 400, 300 for dead, squat and bench are typical “goals” for a serious well talented lifter.

My dead and squat are only 60lbs apart, but I’m short , squat low bar, and have t-Rex arms so I’m built more for squat.

Also if someone has a bench bigger than their squat and their tall then they need to change their setup. Squat wider and low bar.

Alan

And the short range of motion squats have a purpose. It’s just a different squat variation.

Alan

That short though? What is the purpose exactly?

similitude wrote:

That short though? What is the purpose exactly?

It is more similar to running, that's why he is doing it.

Wunder wrote:

I'm 6' 180...forget lifting I'd like to challenge a former Olympic marathoner to a footrace. I've always been big for a runner Ryan definitely hasn't what do you think his run fitness is now with his current size?

he talks about that in the lance Armstrong podcast...he says it sucks for running

great podcast by the way

say what you want about lance....and the way he treated people, which was horrendous.....but he's good at this podcasting thing.....it's not so easy to make them interesting and entertaining.....most of his guests seem very relaxed and the conversation usually flows really well....at least that's my opinion.....there is some dynamic that helps with lance being as rich, famous and *successful as anyone he's interviewing....he's not just some dude in his mom's basement talking to troy aikman

great with with the rock climber, alex h....troy aikman was really great as well

similitude wrote:

That short though? What is the purpose exactly?

It could be a variation on supramaximal loading to prime the nervous system.

Also with such a short range of motion he’s able to overload that specific range of motion at a higher weight than he normally could.

We also don’t know how that specific exercise at that specific time fits in with his other work that day or week.

You could overload like that and it will make your “normal” working weight feel easier. You’re basically overloading the supporting muscles and structures, which will be able to handle a higher weight than your working weight.

He could be priming the system for lighter explosive work in the same range of motion.

Countless reasons really.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose....

Alan

So you're saying those Ryan Hall contorted half bench presses were strategic...

Let’s say Hall is 185 and 20 x 205 (and they weren’t close to clean ) translates to 275. For women at 185, benching 275 is barely competitive on sub elite levels.

I don’t know why people say that’s good for a wimpy distance runner. Hall has spent much of his life running and keeeping his weight to a minimum, helping his ratio.

The only real reference I have is myself. Distance runner who stopped running in my early 40s. In a year I was benching clean a max lift of 255 at my weight of 140. I thought that was good until I started looking into competitive benching.

I do have to say that being long and ectomorphic like Hall, is a disadvantage for lifting weights and I have to say I understand his need to drive.

Good for him

Similitude wrote:

So you're saying those Ryan Hall contorted half bench presses were strategic...

Maybe. Or he’s being a tool.

Alan

so much nope wrote:

1. There' s no bench press in the Olympics.

2. He's not bench pressing. This is a decline press with his butt off the bench.

3. 205x20 isn't particularly good. I mean, it's decent for a beginner like him, but there will be 25 non-athletes in my college gym this afternoon who can do more.

I suspect you posted this to ridicule him. I like him and and don't want to make fun of him, but to answer your question, that's a big nope.

I know this thread is old. Yes, there is no bench press in the Olympics and Mr. Hall has no chance of making it in any Olympic lifting event as you have smaller guys clean and press more than his with straps deadlift. There are probably guys in his weight that can snatch more than his deadlift. But, Iifting his rear off the bench aside, there is no way anyone Hall’s weight who isn’t a serious lifter is doing 20 @205. That puts his max at close to, if not over, 315. There are guys in the nfl that can’t bench that and certainly no beginner is even close to that unless they weigh 300.

I’ve been loosely following his progress over the last couple years. His bench is by far the best and he’s really progressed in the last year. One thing I have noticed is he’s put on almost no fat. It’s pretty much all muscle. For someone in their 20s I wouldn’t suspect anything, but for someone late 30s is this believable without a little help?

Hounddog harrier wrote:

20 reps ( almost) at 205 pounds. Like the title says, does he have a chance?

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsgl9FshYNf/

Watched the video.

Good effort at lifting.

Good for his weight.

What was his weight here?

It has him listed on wiki at like 145 i think.

Overall a really good power to weight ratio.

Some NFL players can barely do 225 lbs at 225 lbs body weight for 12 reps.

Why is Hall posting videos of himself bench pressing? Do former rock stars post pics of themselves gardening? So weird.

Blastzone wrote:

Why is Hall posting videos of himself bench pressing? Do former rock stars post pics of themselves gardening? So weird.

Try to be nicer to him.

Read his instagram posts.

It says he's trying out new things. Such as running and weightlifting together.

And isn't he retired from running?

Control your sarcasm and hatred.

Be stronger than the sarcasm.

Be stronger than the hate.

At all times you should be thinking happy and positive thoughts.

Go to your happy place like in the movie Happy Gilmore.