That the weightlifting be an essential part of the skills for those who practice CrossFit® perhaps it is already known to all as it consists of a series of exercises weightlifting who try to develop force, explosiveness, flexibility, coordination and balance.
Given the importance of this activity, we of CrossMag we decided to chat with a real one Olympic lifter. Mohamed Ihab Yousef is an Egyptian athlete who has contributed to spreading the popularity of weightlifting thanks to the enormous fame of his videos and the results obtained in the various competitions in which he participated.
World champion, bronze medalist at the Rio 2016 Olympics and holder of the record of snatch (173 kg) in the 80 kg category, we interviewed him for you, to find out a little more about the life of this likeable athlete, who in addition to being a force of nature remained humble and down-to-earth.
You started your career very young, when you were 8 years old. Can you tell us what it was like to live on weightlifting?
I started weightlifting at a very young age because the gym was close to home and it was the only place I liked to go to for fun. Also my father was an athlete as well as a coach. All my brothers do this sport, so I couldn't do without. It has become a passion!
Weight lifting is mainly done by athletes from Eastern Europe. What is it like being an athlete in Egypt? We are curious about how this sport develops in your country.
Indeed, this sport is not very popular in Egypt. You know, weightlifting requires an equipped place, with expensive tools that must undergo periodic maintenance. So there are few boxes, and those that are there don't do much publicity and don't explain the importance and benefits for all ages so there is little turnout. We manage, in short [laughs].
How do you prepare yourself before each competition? How much do you train, what do you eat?
The commitment I put into it is what makes me ready to compete. I also follow my opponents and study their previous competition results. I try to understand their development, methods and techniques and I prepare myself psychologically and physically to face them.
As for training, I train every day. The exercises are basically weight lifting, flexibility, gymnastics and I stay active with swimming. As for eating, I try to eat 5 meals a day, mostly carbohydrates and protein. I weigh myself every day and try to control the amount of fluids I drink by recording everything to have a complete index for race day.
Many people don't know the difference between CrossFit® and Weightlifting… What are the differences and how does your sport's fitness differ from other weight-related sports?
Weightlifting is the teaching of the movements and processes of the muscles of the body in carrying out heavy lifting actions. You need to start small, because it prepares you for the nervous system and the body to face the races. In addition, weightlifting is recognized as an Olympic sport.
Instead the CrossFit® teaches and prepares the body to perform the greatest number of reps in the shortest possible time, it is more aerobic. A crossfiter trains the respiratory and nervous system to close a workout, there are always new exercises and you can start at any age. However in the skills there are various exercises deriving from weightlifting ...
At the Rio 2016 Olympics, you managed to earn the bronze medal. How was it?
Unbelievable. Of course the Olympic medal has its value and brings you to a world of privileges. It gives you the feeling that the world is yours! But then head down and go back to work hard.
You are well known on the net for your lifting videos, one in particular, where you try the 17 push press times up to being able to pull up 152kg. Did you think you wouldn't make it at some point?
No! I always put myself to the test and I try for hours without getting bored. Maybe I'm tired, but eager to achieve the result I set for myself.
You lift incredible loads and train a lot. What's your point of view on stretching and the rest day? We may have seen some creative stretching videos made by you ...
Sometimes there is flexibility in the training program, and I can do any exercise at my leisure. So I do stretching, as you define it, creative. In fact there is this video that you say [laughs]. But it is really important for physical conditioning.
I have found instead that the days of rest outside my routine are important for stimulating the mind and the body. So I try to respect, make a rest a week, even if I end up going swimming!
In an interview you said that you are preparing to participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games. How is the preparation going?
I'm getting ready like when I went to Rio, in the 2016. I follow a schedule to improve strength, speed, explosiveness and flexibility. Moreover, until July 2020 I will participate again in some competition to prepare myself better.
We wish you all the best for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and we hope to hear a lot about you again!
I am very happy to have talked to you about CrossMag and I am always available to talk about this sport that fascinates me so much! I hope you enjoyed it! Greetings to all, Mohamed Ehab, Olympic lifter.
For those who want to follow (and it's really worth it) his IG is: @mohamed_ehab_youssef