The Chinese Weightlifting Federation confirmed today that Coach Chen Wenbin and Athens gold medalists Shi Zhiyong and Zhang Guozheng have accepted IronMind's invitation to lift at the 2005 Arnold Expo, giving very special meaning the slogan, "The road to Beijing begins here."


62-kg Shi Zhiyong (China) pulls himself under this 172.5-kg clean, on his way to a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics (Athens, Greece). IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.
 

The Columbus Weightlifting Club, the force behind bringing weightlifting to the Arnold Expo, has described next year's event by saying, "The road to Beijing begins here," and what better way to celebrate this than by hosting an all-star delegation from the Chinese Weightlifting Federation? Thus, backed by Jim Lorimer and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, IronMind®'s Randall Strossen extended an invitation to the Chinese Weightlifting Federation to attend the weightlifting competition at the 2005 Arnold Expo.

"We are deeply honored to welcome Coach Chen Wenbin and Athens gold medalists Shi Zhiyong and Zhang Guozheng to the 2005 Arnold Expo, and without the complete and immediate support of Jim Lorimer and Governor Schwarzenegger, this would never have been possible. This is a great day for the sport of weightlifting and is a first step toward the 2008 Olympics," Strossen said.

With special thanks to the Megan Tornstrom, Mark Cannella, and Dan Bell for getting weightlifting on the program at the Arnold Expo, everyone lucky enough to be in Columbus, Ohio next March 4-6 for the 2005 Arnold Expo will be able to see two of the world's best weightlifters—Olympic champions Shi Zhiyong and Zhang Guozheng.

See you there!