California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Olympic weightlifting champion Tommy Kono visited the weight room at Sacramento High School today as the governor showed his support for the upcoming Tommy Kono Open Weightlifting Championships and, specifically, the Olympic-style weightlifting program that coach Paul Doherty has been running at the school.


California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said that as a young man he watched Tommy Kono compete in the World Weightlifting Championships and was so inspired by Kono’s strength and  physique that he redoubled his own training efforts.  The result of this, the governor said, was that he won the Mr. Universe contest, which in turn led to his getting an invitation to come to the United States.  The rest, as they say, is history.  IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen photo.


This Saturday, August 7, Sacrmento High will host the the fifth edition of the Tommy Kono Open Weightlifting Championships and Coach Doherty’s team should have some extra wind in its sails - the governor pledged to help raise funds for the program that qualified more of its young athletes for the Junior World Weightlifting Championships this year than the club could afford to send.

Check here for more details on the 2010 Tommy Kono Open Weightlifting Championships.

                                                                                                       

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