Eat at Joe’s

Lifting a Grand Piano

Weightlifting was not very high on my list of events to see. After all, there were my diving pals and Usain Bolt, Gabby Douglas and the opening ceremony. But for sheer craziness and drama it is tough to beat weightlifting with its reality TV music, bigger-than-life characters and an arena full of screaming and chanting…

eatatjoesblog
1–2 minutes

Weightlifting was not very high on my list of events to see.

After all, there were my diving pals and Usain Bolt, Gabby Douglas and the opening ceremony.

But for sheer craziness and drama it is tough to beat weightlifting with its reality TV music, bigger-than-life characters and an arena full of screaming and chanting Iranians.

They own this sport, largely because of Behdad Salimikordasiabi, the strongest man on earth — or at least at the Olympics. He won gold by lifting, well, I will let Barry Bearak describe it. From his story on the event,

“The strongest man in the world, if hoisting heavy barbells is the measure, is a 22-year-old Iranian who Tuesday won the Olympic weight lifting gold medal among super-heavyweights, hoisting 545 pounds above his head, more than the heft of a baby grand piano.”

Click here for his entire story.

And click here for the graphic of his technique.

Here are some pictures from last night. Check out the faces of the volunteers in the picture of the guy who dropped 450 pounds on his neck.

25 responses to “Lifting a Grand Piano”

  1. CANDT2ANDJ Avatar
    CANDT2ANDJ

    They are some strong dudes! The guy dropping it on his neck was crazy. Those faces are pretty funny though! What was your reaction to that when you saw it happen?

  2. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Not a sport I would want to get into…

  3. eatatjoesblog Avatar
    eatatjoesblog

    @CANDT2ANDJ
    When it was happening it was little scary. Mostly for him I imagine. I added two more pictures of it.

  4. Michigan Niece, sort of Avatar
    Michigan Niece, sort of

    I can not stop laughing at the Judge’s faces! Thank you for sharing!

  5. Anne's Lace (I guess I'm not a Queen if I'm at work) Avatar
    Anne’s Lace (I guess I’m not a Queen if I’m at work)

    DM
    I think you’re the one doing the heavy lifting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    That is CRAZY!! He is a lucky guy! The volunteers…priceless.
    Ummm…this just isn’t as fun from home.

    poke 🙂

  7. #2 sister Avatar
    #2 sister

    Lifting Tuscan Sunrises? 🙂

  8. 2012 host Avatar
    2012 host

    Part of Gamesmaker training was Reactive Facial Expressionism. The 2nd Gamesmaker from the left was in my group. We called him Blanky McBlankerton so it’s great to see he has improved!

  9. Queen Anne's Lace Avatar
    Queen Anne’s Lace

    Hello 2012 Host,

    Can you tell us a little bit about RFE training? Were you trained to react, or not to react?
    And unless I missed it in an earlier post is there a photo of you in your purple and red garb and do you get to keep it?
    Thanks for the updates.
    Cheers!

  10. 2012 host Avatar
    2012 host

    Hi QAL!

    Sorry I was kidding about RFE. Just arrived at dayjob this morning on not enough sleep, and a bit delirious with the commenting.

    No such photo exists yet. The term perfect fit cannot be used to describe my uniform’s relationship with me, but I will probably have a photo taken for dayjob’s newsletter, so that can be in a future update.

    I do get to keep everything (yay the sneakers!!), and the parting gift was a small leather-bound Gamesmaker journal with some pages full of London 2012 facts; an aluminium track & field relay baton, regulation size and weight, etched with Gamesmaker positivity; and small gold, silver and bronze Gamesmaker pins. Unfortunately the pins have McDonald’s logos on them but I suppose they must be thanked too for being a sponsor and for helping so much with Gamesmaker interviewing and training.

    For the other volunteering I’m doing, a tree will be planted for each of us!

    http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/jubilee-woods/latest-news/Pages/Londons-first-Jubilee-Woods.aspx?source=/en/jubilee-woods/latest-news/Pages/LatestNews.aspx

  11. #2 sister Avatar
    #2 sister

    You’re good, Leah! I TOTALLY believed the training story! Amy, welcome back to Loserville, kid!!

  12. Anne's Lace (I guess I'm not a Queen if I'm at work) Avatar
    Anne’s Lace (I guess I’m not a Queen if I’m at work)

    2012, maybe it’s because I hadn’t had a full cup of coffee yet, but i totally believed you — I figured maybe you shouldn’t show favoritism or the like — You’re not only a reporter but a novelist too!

  13. 2012 host Avatar
    2012 host

    Apologies for the subterfuge! Maybe a novelist someday – having been raised by another potential novelist (and Countess wanabee) with an active imagination!

    Truthfully, we were trained on behavior and comportment, friendliness, appropriate reactions to situations with spectators, etc. It really seems to have worked – many people are giving great feedback about the Gamesmakers, and now that I’m wearing the spectator hat, I agree!

  14. Suzette the Mother Avatar
    Suzette the Mother

    I too was taken in by that naughty Gamesmaker! It’s not nice to fool sincere ‘mature’ ladies desperate for word of the Games. When the barbell picture was first posted I studied the Asian man in a few shots thinking he was in way too much pain for that event and should ask to be transferred to something more benign like synch swimming! So glad you are home safely Amy, with all those wonderful memories. “How they gonna keep you down on the farm?”

  15. Suzette the Mother Avatar
    Suzette the Mother

    PS, our local athlete is Samyr Laine-an NFA grad competing for Haiti. Did he triple jump yet? I read that he qualified. He’s a Harvard grad and was Mark Zuckerberg’s roommate. Just a little factoid that I stole from that other stellar morning gazette-the Times Herald Record.

  16. 2012 host Avatar
    2012 host

    Suzette! The final is at 7:20pm local time tonight.

  17. DM Avatar
    DM

    at Wembley Stadium for the women’s soccer final.

  18. 2012 host Avatar
    2012 host

    Enjoy! Exciting rematch of last year’s World Cup final. And congrats to Canada on the bronze!

  19. Vyse Guy Avatar
    Vyse Guy

    Check out the Google doodle for today on Google.com. I’ve had to clear my whole schedule of doing nothing today because of it!

  20. #2 sister Avatar
    #2 sister

    I can honestly testify that Vyse Guy has an unhealthy obsession with the synch swimming. I get a very excited text from him every time it’s on. Their heads look shrinkwrapped!! I wonder if those big bad firemen in the Bronx know how much he loves the event???

  21. DM Avatar
    DM

    hey a Vyse Guy sighting. What do you know?
    Welcome back.
    spent many an hour at synchronized diving.
    if you need more fun things to kill time go here: 15 games so far:
    http://niemann.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/competitive-armchair-olympics-road-race/

  22. #2 sister Avatar
    #2 sister

    Wow! Waiting for that game to start, DM! That’s going to be an amazing one!!

  23. DM Avatar
    DM

    electric here. waiting to shoot the medal ceremony

  24. #2 sister Avatar
    #2 sister

    Can’t wait to see your pictures…what a game!

  25. DM Avatar
    DM

    Well was taking pictures for graphics purposes. you can see some here:

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