I hope this thread is ok, as I can’t post under “Weightlifting”
This is from the “Supertraining” forum:
Serge Reding By Tommy Kono
At the 1971 World Championships Belgium’s challenger to the
superheavyweight title, Serge Reding, got off to a flying start with
a world record Press of 502 1/2 lbs but an old arm injury flared up
and a “shot” in the wrong spot rendered his right arm useless so he
could not continue in the competition.
A month and a half later when his arm had regained its full strength
and he was able to train normally, an international match was
arranged against Alexeev in Brussels, the hometown of Reding. The
packed audience was in for a disappoint ment when the “supposedly
sick” Russian champion made only a token showing by Pressing 308 lbs.
Reding was more than disappointed for he was in grand shape to take
on Alexeev. Yet, even with the competitive “fire” gone, Serge tried
to exceed all of Alexeev’s world records … and almost succeeded in
doing just that.
At the 1972 European Championships an injury to his right calf
prevented him from performing well even though he was in good shape
prior to the injury.
Reding seemed to be beseiged by bad luck but I thought for certain
that in the Munich Olympics, with careful planning from his coach,
that the balance would swing over to the other side and he would come
up with some terrific lifts, surprising everyone.
With the above thought in mind, months before the Olympic Games, I
decided to interview Reding but circumstances prevented the Belgian
lifter and myself from getting together and so I arranged a list of
questions for his coach and friend Andre DuPont since we had occasion
to see each other more often.
The following is an interview with the Belgian national coach DuPont
about his lifter Serge Reding prior to the 1972 European
Championships.
TK–Andre, could you give us a brief background of Reding’s early
childhood?
AD–He was born December 23, 1941 in a neighborhood of Brussels
called Auderghem, but he spent most of his childhood in the Belgian
Andrennes. He is an only child and his parents are not exceptionally
big or strong. In fact, they are on the thin side. When he was young
he wasn’t active in sports but loved taking walks in the woods. When
he returned to Brussels at 17 years of age he took up gymnastics.
TK–When, why and how did he get started in weightlifting and could
you give us some of his early results?
AD–He turned to weight training in February, 1959 because he was
already weighing 198 lbs. at 5’7" and his gymnastic coach thought his
big legs were not suited for Olympic-type gymnastic training. When he
first started training his approximate lifts were 132 lbs. Press, 121
Ibs. Snatch and 154 lbs. Jerk. After 3 months training under Mr.
Wittenbol, his first coach in weightlifting, he entered his first
competition and he made a total of 507 lbs. with 154, 154, and 198.
From then on he progressed as follows:
1959–595 (270 kg.)
1960–854 (387% kg.)
1961–military service
1962–898 (407% kg.)
1963–970 (440 kg.)
1964–1069 (485 kg.)
1965–1146 (520 kg.)
1966–1157 (525 kg.)
1967–1129 (512 kg. He stopped training for 4 months.)
1968–1223 (555 kg.)
1969–1257 (570 kg.)
1970–1323 (600 kg.)
1971–1289 (585 kg.)
1972–1367 (620 kg.)
TK–Serge is not tall but with his huge girth which is all in
wonderful proportion he looks so impressive. I often marvel at the
way he continues to add more muscles on his frame each year without
getting sloppy looking or fat. What are his measurements?
AD–He stands 5’8" and at the bodyweight of 303 lbs he has the
following measurements:
Chest, normal–56’’
Waist–47"
Hips–48"
Thighs–31"
Arms; straight 18 1/4", flexed-- 20 1/2"
Neck-20"
Calves-20"
measurement around his shoulders–65"
Hat size-- 7 1/2
Shoe size–8 1/2 (European size 43).
TK–What are his best Olympic lifts made officially and in training?
AD–Officially he has made the following lifts in one contest or
another: Press-502 lbs… Snatch --385 lbs., and Jerk–500 lbs. His
best train ing lifts are: 485, 374 and 485 which shows that he is a
competition lifter and not a “gym” (training) lifter. (Note: these
training lifts were made prior to June, 1972).
TK–I’m curious about his strength in some of the basic exercises for
singles and for 3 repetitions. What information can you give us in
regard to his records in the squats and other supplementary
exercises?
AD–His best Front Squat for a single is 617 lbs. and 573 lbs. for
three repetitions. He`s done 705 for one repetition and 617 for
triples in the regular squats. On a 45 degree incline he has Pressed
396 lbs. for a single and for 3 reps, 363 lbs. Although he doesn’t
work on the Bench Press nor the Dead Lifts he has done 463 lbs. on
the Bench and 771 lbs. on the Dead Lift.
TK–The foregoing questions were all in the line of weightlifting but
can you give us some information about his general physical condition
as regards stamina. endurance, etc. and other athletic ability?
AD–Reding has a normal pulse rate of 78 beats per minute and his
blood pressure reading is 130 over 90. His best record in the
standing broad jump is 9’5" and high jump 4’11" which is performed by
taking 3 steps and taking off on both feet. During his general
preparation program he runs cross-country once or twice a week but he
prefers sprints over long distance running. His record in the 100
meters sprint is 13 seconds.
TK–What is his daily routine and does he have a profession?
AD–His day starts with his waking up at 7:30 and he works from 9 to
4 at the National Library as a Librarian. Then his training starts at
6 p.m. and lasts between 2 to 3 hours. He goes to bed about 10:30
p.m.
TK–What about his diet?
AD–He eats 5 times a day with no special diet aside from powdered
protein supplement which he takes with his breakfast.
TK–Andre, besides being a good personal friend of Reding’s, you’ve
been his coach for a number of years and help him to plan his
training program. Can you generalize his yearly training plan?
AD–His yearly training plan is in two periods and the first period
is broken down into three stages:
I. General Preparation --2 1/2 mos.
II, Specific Preparation --1 1/2 mos.
III. Competition Preparation–3 1/2 mos.
The second period is shorter but still contains the 3 stages:
I. General Preparation --3 weeks
II. Specific Preparation --3 weeks
III. Competition Preparation–3 weeks
After these periods comes one month of “active” rest.
TK–Could you explain the general concept of the weekly training plan
and in what areas he concentrates most?
AD–Serge trains 5 to 6 times a week with approximately 3 heavy days
where he trains about 3 hours per training session and 3 light
training days which last from 1 1/2 to 2 hours per session. During
the General Preparation period concentration is on developing more
basic power rather than technique. During the Specific Preparation
period the concentration is still on Power as compared to technique,
but of a more explosive type power training. Naturally during the
competition period more emphasis is placed on technique while
retaining the power developed from the previous stage.
TK–Does he have a favorite exercise or lift which he prefers to
practice over any other?
AD–He likes the Squat exercise a lot. On the three Olympic lifts he
has no special preference since switching over from the split style
to the squat style Snatch. In the past his Snatch was the poor lift
so he spent a lot of time on this exercise but after mastering the
squat style Snatch he works on all three Olympic lifts with equal
enthusiasm.
TK-How often does Reding take massage and sauna baths and can you
comment on the isometric movements which I saw him practice before
the World Championships in Lima, Peru?
AD–Serge doesn’t like massage and never takes sauna baths. In
regards to the isometric movement, he does only one pull movement
isometrically and this is performed only during the competition
preparation stage.
TK–What does he do on his spare time? Does he have a hobby?
AD–He likes to read and as a form of relaxation he likes to see
movies.
TK–Last year while in Brussels Alexeev told Oscar State and me that
he believed that Reding can total 1487 lbs. (675 kg.), with 529 (240
kg.). 407(185 kg.), and 551 lbs. (250 kg.) in Munich for the
Olympics. When Oscar and I asked Alexeev what he would do at the
Olympics, he replied, “Oh, a little more.” What do you and Reding
think about his comment?
AD–Serge hopes to be the best. He and I think that he can total 1487
but not in Munich for it is too early for such a total. We don’t
think that Alexeev can do so much.
TK-- Does Reding intend to continue in weightlifting competition
after the '72 Olympics? What are his plans afterwards?
AD–If he does well in Munich he intends to continue lifting. In the
other case, he doesn’t know. His eventual plan is to open a sporting
equipment shop.
The road to an Olympic title can be an extremely rough one and for
this Belgian superman it proved to be even more so. He had made
personal records of 507 lbs. Press, 396 lbs. Snatch, and 507 lbs.
Jerk in Belgium before coming to Munich which proved he was in the
best shape of his life … and free of injuries!
In the Messegelande training hall in the Bavarian capital I witnessed
Reding’s effortless Clean of 484 lbs. and without the slightest knee
kick pressed it aloft even easier than his clean! He snatched 374
lbs. and Jerked 507 lbs. without any difficulties during his tapering
down sessions. He was truly in great shape and ready for the big
battle against Alexeev, Patera and Mang!
Then, during the Olympics, on his final warm-up lift backstage just
before his first attempt Press, in shouldering the 463 lbs. for his
Press something freakish occurred. The 55 lbs. (25 kg.) plates slid
off one end of the collarless bar when the bar sagged on impact with
his chest, throwing the uneven load to his opposite wrist causing
searing pain in his left wrist! As he was the next lifter on the
platform it was much too late for a doctor on duty to do anything for
him.
Reding went out gallantly to start with a 495 lbs. Press which was
loaded on the bar but he failed to clean the weight. In spite of
great pain he managed to clean the next attempt but the pain was too
intense when he tried to Press the weight.
All those months of sacrifice and careful planning had ended without
a lift even being made in the Olympic Games.
What lifts could this Belgium superman have made had he not suffered
these injuries! That we’ll never know but if he continues to train I
am positive that Alexeev will not be able to remain so supreme.
I personally hope that he will continue to train hard and compete for
no great champion ever had a smooth climb to the top. I’m equally
positive that the pendulum for Reding will swing over to his side if
he perseveres.