Anthem lifter competes nationally

MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR ~7/27/2011

Fredrick Martinez is a long way removed from his days as a college sprinter, but the Anthem resident’s drive to compete remains strong at the age of 39.
Despite fighting a shoulder injury Martinez returned from the Pan American Masters competition with a second place finish in the 35 – 39 age group on July 10. Five days later
he took seventh in the National Championship, where he competed against athletes half his age.
Instead of sprinting, Martinez now competes as a weightlifter.
“Actually it’s not as big of a leap as you’d think,” Martinez explains. “I ran the 100 and 200 meters and just like you need explosiveness in sprinting it’s something you need in weightlifting. You need speed, flexibility and timing.”
After a serious knee injury ended his college career Martinez, upon rehabbing, decided to take up a new sport.
In 1997, at the encouragement of his brother, who was into weight lifting, Martinez eagerly followed suit.
“I made trying to get to the Olympics my goal,” he said. “If I get into something I go all out.”
But starting in his 20s Martinez knew he was way behind his competition.
“It’s a very technical sport,” he said. “In a lot of the European countries they start very young to learn the technique.”
After having some initial success in local competitions Martinez decided he would test his skills against competitors from around the country.
While the 136-pound athlete, who competes in the 62 kilos weight class, never reached Olympic status he continues at a sport he calls a passion.
“I guess I like it most because it’s not something everybody can do,” he said.
Olympic weightlifting consists of two events. The first is the snatch, Martinez’s favorite event, which requires competitors to lift the barbell from the platform to locked arms overhead in a smooth continuous movement. At the U.S. Nationals, which took place in Council Bluff, Iowa, Martinez had a lift of 87 kilos (192 pounds), missing out on medaling by four kilos.
The second event is the clean and jerk. In the clean and jerk the lifter takes the bar from the ground up above his waist to his chest. From there the jerk portion of the event requires the competitor to propel the barbell upwards above their head.
Martinez, who said he has been fortunate to work with and receive some good coaching along the way, currently trains four days a week in Mesa. There he works with the same coach that trains one of the country’s top women lifters.
“We have a good group out there,” he said. “We all push each other.”
Martinez’s best effort in the snatch is 192 pounds while his best effort in clean and jerk is 224 pounds. His overall best score in a competition has been just under 400 pounds.
Still growing accustomed to competing in the national competitions, the software consultant said he wishes he could have started in the sport at an earlier age.
“For some reason if I do well in one event I struggle in the other,” he said. “I’m still looking to put it all together.”
Despite competing against much younger athletes, in many cases, Martinez doesn’t see himself stepping away from the sport any time soon. He said he already has the 2012
World Masters Game in Italy on his radar.
“It’s like the Olympics for old guys,” he said. “I’ve met a lot of good friend in competing around the country and don’t have a timetable for how long I’ll continue in the sport. I go out there and try to do my best and hopefully that’s good enough to medal.”
For information on the sport go to weightlifting.teamusa.org.