Piece of the Platform – Volume 5
Welcome to piece of the platform. As Athletes ourselves and as Technical Officials, we’re really lucky that we get to spend time with, know, work or train alongside some really fantastic people from within the weightlifting community. We’re even luckier still that some of those people have agreed to a take part in our mini interviews, that we’ve coined ‘Piece of the Platform’.
We’ve reached out to Coaches, Technical Officials, BWL staff, Athletes and volunteers, and we’ve asked them all some variation of the same 4 questions. The answers we’ve had back have been inspiring, funny, helpful and thought provoking – so we’ve collated them here, as an addendum to the learning resources, to pool that collective knowledge and advice in the hope that you’ll enjoy reading them just as much as we did.
Benedict Millson – Coach, Athlete, British and English Champion
Want to know more about Benedict?
@mrbigfriday
What’s your favourite thing about weightlifting ?
Favourite thing about weightlifting is the community that you create around you. I have lifters who have become best friends who never would have met if it wasn’t for this sport (sometimes in two different countries) and that’s something you can’t put a price on. Also hitting PBs and breaking past your own mental barriers
What one piece of advice would you give to athletes about competition?
One piece of advice I would give to athletes about competing is the earlier you compete the better. If you think you’re only going to compete once you hit certain numbers A) you’ll never be satisfied or prepared enough and B) you’re missing the point Also get a good coach
What do you think BWL and the Technical Officials do well, and what could we do better?
One thing I’ve noticed that BWL TOs do quite well is whenever I have had a question about anything rules related I have always asked one of them and always they have been very keen to help me out and very polite about it. I don’t claim to know every rule and am learning every time I coach at competitions but the TOs make this so much easier
If you could ask your favourite lifter one question, who are they and what would that be?
My favourite lifter is Ilya Ilyin and when I met him i told him he was my biggest inspiration and I don’t think he understood me (I was nervous so spoke probably in my native Yorkshire dialect) 😂😂