Girevoy lifting
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LEETON'S David Tabain is now the highest recognised kettlebell lifter in Australia after taking titles in the US and Melbourne within weeks of each other.
Tabain and young prot�g� Josh Dean, 15, competed at the International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation (IKFF) 2012 National Kettlebell Championships in Detroit in November, before returning for the Australian titles on December 1.
Tabain now has six Australian, three American and one world title to his name as well as holding the US jerk record and the jerk and snatch in Australia.
For his part, Dean became the youngest Australian to hold dual titles and records in the sport.
The IKFF championship was the biggest in the Western hemisphere with 185 competitors from around the world lifting on 10 platforms.
Tabain and Dean competed in the biathlon event, completing lifts in the snatch (one kettlebell lifted from between the legs to above the head for five minutes per hand) and jerk (two kettlebells from the chest straight up above the head, alternating hands for 10 minutes).
In the 16 years and under 16 kilogram class, 64kg weight division, Dean completed 134 reps in the jerk and 195 in the snatch to win his weight and age category, and out-lifted every other competitor using that weight.
"That's the best I've ever done and 134 is a new American record for 16kg in any age," Dean said. "It was awesome. Definitely an eyeopener.
"With all the training leading up to it, when I was finished I thought 'was that it?'.
"In training we would do three times more reps than that."
Tabain competed in the professional 32kg class, 85-90kg weight division and finished with a total jerk score of 81 reps and a snatch score of 139.
His day was not without its dramas as a slipping weight resulted in a number of reps being taken off his score. While Tabain had still done enough to win, it meant he did not qualify as a mater of sport.
"It counted on the day, but they reassessed it and took lifts off, but I still smashed it in with 81 in the snatch," he said.
"I was probably the most nervous I have been before a competition. Watching everyone's set before you added to the nerves."
There were also psychological games with some of the Russian competitors.
"Once we started lifting they shut their mouths," Tabain said. "They came over and showed more respect."
At the Melbourne event, Tabain was aiming for his sixth straight Australian title and first with the 32kg weight.
"I was totally exhausted mentally and physically from the US trip," he said.
"It showed on the platform in the first set. I only did 56 reps, which is still the Australian record.
"In the snatch I picked it up a little and hit 130 reps."
Dean was also affected by the US trip, but again out-lifted every competitor in the 16kg category.
"In the jerk I did 112 reps," he said. "It was a little bit less than in America and in the snatch I got 168."
However, the experienced Tabain was impressed.
"It was the toughest set I have seen Josh lift," he said. "He did extremely well to hold onto the bells."
Tabain has also been asked to compete at the invitation-only Russian Federation world titles in 2013.