NPC Nationals 1998
by -jabber
Short closing...


Of note was what I considered the most amazing thing I've ever seen in a
fitness routine (tell me if this doesn't blow you away, too).  The sad part
about this is I don't know the fitness competitor's name!  But she was also
in the strength fitness competition at WSE '98.  The most amazing part of
the competition (to me) in NJ was the one-arm push-ups.  The first girl
(the one in question) to come out did 37 very, VERY, V-E-R-Y strict one-arm
push-ups nonstop with her right arm.  I was floored by the strength in her
right arm.  (the second girl, Cynthia Bridges, did 38 equally strict
one-arm push-ups with her left, but then form flew out the window as Martha
Lombardo did a total of 86 (both arms combined) one-arm push-ups in lousy
form (impressive nonetheless), then Min Yung Kim used form somewhere
between strict and not-strict to win the even with a total of 100 (both
arms combines) one-arm push-ups!)  Anyway, back to the girl I can't recall
her name.  Now we've all seen one-arm push-ups in fitness routines, right? 
Nice.  We've also seen variations involving the Carol Semple move with the
legs on the elbows, right?  Nice.  And we've also seen the clapping push-up
where the woman generates enough power when raising herself during a
push-up that she can clap her hands together and return her hands back to
the starting position, right?  Damn impressive.

But this girl, get this, she generated enough power while raising herself
during a ONE-ARM PUSH-UP to clap her hands together!  Her left arm was
outstretched, her right arm generated enough power to lift herself in the
air, clap her hands, then left arm went back outstretched and ONLY her
right arm caught herself to return to the starting position.  She did this
mind-numbing feat about 6 times in quick, quick succession (but strict
form).  I was floored/flabbergasted, etc...

Also of note, Hooligan also got a kick out of my previous comments when the
women are doing the compulsories:  quarter turn to the right, quarter turn
to the right, quarter turn to the right, face the schmoos. :-)  And after
the fitness overall was announced (and therefore the women's portion of the
show was through), Hooligan announced, okay, the schmoos (alright he spells
it schmoes) can leave now.  A very fun weekend, indeed.

Note, I do know something about male bodybuilding, too, although I wasn't
interested in hanging around the men's competition.  After all, I was the
guy who announced that Ronnie Coleman would 'never' win the Mr. Olympia as
his symmetry's not good enough and never will be.  He has unreal mass in
his arms, but the symmetry's so far off.  And how Flex Wheeler's the most
aesthetic mbb around - oh well, you know, the rest is history...

At least there IS sanity in that Kim Chizevsky still rules...

-jabber