CAPE LIFTER WANTS TO SAMPLE OLYMPICS

Cape Girardeau powerlifter Lindsay Sample is already a champion. Now he'd like a shot at being an Olympian.

Sample has competed on the state and international levels as a powerlifter for over 10 years with his brother Leonard. He works out in two-hour sessions twice each week at Universal Health and Fitness, and the 43-year old, 220-pound lifter has won numerous awards.

Most recently, Sample took first-place last week in an international competition sponsored by the World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation in Taber, Alberta, Canada. The competition included some of the best powerlifters in the world, he said, and the competition was strong.

"This isn't the biggest trophy I've won, but it's one of the nicest," Sample said. "This is the biggest drug-free organization in the world; they set the standard for drug-testing in this sport. I'm pretty proud to be a member."

Sample is also proud of his membership on the Universal Power Team, which has won the state team powerlifting championships for 10 years running. As a part of this team, he set a state squat-lifting record when he squatted 705 pounds. This record was made even better because it was an event open to competitors of any age.

"The 40- to 44-year old age group is usually the toughest age group to compete in because you've got more people who have been competing longer," he said. "I'm pretty proud of that record, though, because it was an open event, and I was competing against guys half my age."

Sample said even though powerlifting is becoming a more popular sport, it's still not included in the Olympic Games. Support is building to get squat lifts, bench presses and dead lifts included in the games, he said. If these divisions are ever included, he said, his recent win might qualify him to compete.

"There's talk of it becoming an Olympic sport, and if it did, I would hope this would help me to get in," he said. "I think that would be the main thing left for me to do."

For now, Sample said he's going to take some time off to relax before returning to the weight room. After 10-plus years of competition, he said, the focus is not so much on development as it is on maintenance.