There is no greater honour in any sport than to don the colours of your respective nation. It represents years of hard work, training, setbacks, sacrifice and fulfilling a childhood dream.

The Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow in only a few weeks is the largest athletics event outside of the Olympics and Australia are sending a strong team.

The WOD Life has always supported local Australian and New Zealand athletes and we are proud to get behind some of the athletes going to the Commonwealth Games this year.

If there is one event every CrossFitter is going to be watching it will be the Olympic Weightlifting events. We were able to catch up with The WOD Life athlete Max Dal Santo recently right before he leaves for Glasgow and ask him some questions in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2k3Qp8nFcs

When did you start Olympic Lifting?

In 2000 when I was in Year 10 At Bethesdan Christian College.

What achievements have you achieved since you begun Olympic lifting?

Represented Australia numerous times internationally at Oceania and World events. I have also won many national titles and I was selected as a reserve for 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games. This year I will compete for Australia in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

How long have you been training to reach the Commonwealth Games?

Since 2002 when I first achieved a place on an Australian Team for an Oceanias. I saw that it was achievable and worked towards it.

What does a day of training usually entail for an Olympic lifter such as yourself?

I’m a Primary school teacher so usually it’s a 5 am start, get to the gym by 6am, train until 7:15, get ready for work, finish work at 3:30, back to the gym for another session, home usually by 7 pm, some family time and asleep by 9 to do it all over again.

What does it mean to you to be able to represent your country at the Commonwealth Games?

It means more than words can explain. It has been the focus of 12 years of training and to be denied the last two times really hit hard. I took the time to think about my options and it became apparent that I wasn’t

finished yet, I was still young and had the time to make another run for it. There was no sense in wasting 10 years of training for nothing. I wanted the ending that I deserved and now that is a reality.

What is the competition going to be like at the Commonwealth Games?

 From what I know of the competitors, it is going to be a tight battle for medals. There are some great lifters from all corners of the Commonwealth and they are all hungry for it.

What events are you competing in?

I’ll be competing in the 105 kg category. We only have one event in which we lift.

Who are the people to watch?

Itte Detanamo from Naura in the 105+ division is going to be something to behold. He will shock a few people. Richie Patterson from New Zealand, Francois Etoundi from Australia and Steven Kari from Papua New Guinea. It’s going to be a great spectacle!

How has the sport of CrossFit helped the awareness and profile of Olympic Lifting?

Olympic Weightlifting is a very low level sport in Australia whereas in Europe it can be as big our Aussie Rules. CrossFit has injected new blood into our sport and given us the opportunity to expand and teach our craft to a massive demographic. It’s beneficial for both parties involved as in the CrossFitters learn correct movement patterns and the weightlifters are able to grow in numbers from people who didn’t really know we had weightlifting here.

As a part time coach what have you seen is the biggest fault in most techniques?

Weak posterior chains are the main culprit. Being quad dominant means that you don’t efficiently engage the hamstrings and glutes like you should to pull effectively and hold your position over the bar. There also needs to be a strong pull through the shoulders accompanying the hip drive into the bar. The hips provide the power, the shoulder provide direction. One without the other results in an inefficient lift.

If you had one piece of advice to a young person interested in taking up Olympic Lifting what would it be?

Practice makes permanent. Work the technique first then work strength.

As a The WOD Life ambassador, what does it mean to you?

I feel very honoured to be a part of such a great company that is innovative and willing to push boundaries. I always want to give back to those who invest in me so I hope to see The WOD Life grow and expand into weightlifting in the future.

Lastly everyone is busting to know, what are your numbers?

Clean – 185 kg

C & J- 180 kg

Snatch – 150 kg

deadlift – 255 kg

Front Squat – 200 kg

Back Squat -225 kg

Best Overhead – 195 kg jerk behind neck

From all of us here at The WOD Life we wish Max all the best at Glasgow and we cannot wait to see him up on the podium.

We will be keeping everyone up to date with Max’s progress during the event!

Max recently did some local media for Channel 9 news and it can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UJrpUjdkTo