Sports - December 2003

Thompson two-time world champ

By JOHN MARK BROOKS, Staff Writer

————————————

East Lincoln Middle School teacher Jennifer Thompson didn’t have her best performance at the World Bench Press Championships in Trencin Slovakia recently. However, with the ability and power she possesses it simply didn’t matter.

The 132 pound specimen still was able to win her second World Bench Press title with a lift of 292 pounds. Thompson felt that she had something to prove this time around.

 “Winning the second time was twice as nice. It was great. I didn’t want it to seem like a fluke winning it last year, so I wanted to go in there and back it up this time,” she said.

With the United States still at war in Iraq, Thompson believes it makes the victory that much more special.

“It’s always really cool to win for your country. You feel a lot of patriotism and pride,” she said.

Jennifer Robertson, from West Virginia, took second place with a lift of 252 pounds.

“It was kind of neat that first and second place both went to Americans. When they hoist the stars and stripes above your head on the podium, it just makes you feel like the U.S. has dominated the weight class,” Thompson said.

The U.S. women’s team, headed by Thompson, finished second place overall and were just three points away from winning behind Russia. Thompson believes that finishing so high is a big step for the American team.

“It was the best the U.S. women’s team has ever placed at the World Bench Press Championships. That was out of 27 different countries,” she said.

To prepare for the Championship Thompson underwent a grueling training regimen. The power-lifter  trained for fourteen weeks, four days a week and for two hours each day. Thompson said one of the most important factors in her training was eating right.

 “ I ate a lot of protein and not too many carbs. I trained for four days a week and two hours each day,” she said.

With the Christmas season here, Thompson is looking forward to straying from her strict diet.

“Now I just get to enjoy eating the Christmas cookies and I get to stare up at my gold medal. I’m really excited about getting to eat the sweets,” she said.

Next up for Thompson will be Bench America in May held in Chicago, Illinois.

“It’s great because our sport has been craving media attention for a long time. It’s really special to be selected as the spokesperson,” she said.

Pro Max protein bars and Inzer Advance Designs are her sponsors.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

Terms and Conditions