– The way they rule now, I think it won’t be necessary, Ardalsbacki tells NRK.
She has a total of 16 gold medals and has been busy Weight lifting For a number of years, but at this year’s EC there was an incident that made her react.
She was first approved by the judges on one of her lifts — before making a decision shortly thereafter The jury rejected it.
It’s hard to see what went wrong, and she wasn’t the only one who was judged for this.
– more and more extreme
What she was sentenced to was a violation of the so-called “Press outor extortion rule. A base around which there has been debate and discontent in the powerlifting community.
– The bar should lie flat on a straight arm. You can’t get to bend and then extend after you’ve held the plank. It has to happen in one motion, explains Ardalsbackak.
- And this is what the Årdalsbakke lift looks like:
Right after the Årdalsbakke lift, you can see three white “lights”, so the lift is approved first. Soon after, a voice came over the speaker system saying the jury should evaluate the promise. Then a few seconds pass before the voice says again that the promise has changed from approved to unapproved due to extortion.
– It kind of seems like it’s almost getting more extreme. In a place like this, at least when the judge gives three acquittals, it feels like the jury has to show that they are there. It shows that they have the power and they can do something, she says.
About the judges it says the following:
– They have no power. The judges seem to have nothing to say. When everyone agrees then the jury comes out and says “no,” she says.
Watch the video if in doubt
Norwegian Tryggve Duun is a member of European Weightlifting Association (EWF) sits Technical Committee and Chairman of the Jury in one of the Arbitration Committees during the European Commission. He says the jury doesn’t look at the video anyway, only if it’s not clear.
– They watch the video if they have doubts, or more often if the judges rule the same, as in Marit’s case, or if the coach uses what we call “Challenge card,” he explains.
Årdalsbakke thinks it appears the refs are taking an extra look at those with a history of ‘weak elbows’. In other words, it’s easier for you to shudder there.
– One feels that one is being judged more than others who do not have this history. It seems unfair, but when it happens I’m not surprised. She says it’s almost like it’s becoming a habit.
The 30-year-old says she has faced this many times during her career.
Destroying sports
A British weightlifter experienced something similar at EC. Former silver medalist at both the World Cup and European Championships, Sarah Davies, had her lift also revoked due to the “press on” rule with Årdalsbakke.
There you can also see a TV image of the jury screens, where they had a red ring around her shoulder at the same time “pushed out” was written on the screen.
– There are no rules about shoulders. Bare elbows. Why did they see a noose around my shoulder, jury? writes Davis himself on Instagram.
The Briton reposts several statements of support on his Instagram story.
– Refereeing spoils the sport. Justice for Sarah type one.
– The ruling of the European Commission is a joke, writes another.
Davis eventually took home the bronze medal in the 71 kilogram class.
disputed
Duun can’t comment on the ruling on the promise Årdalsbakke because he wasn’t a jury foreman in the group that judged it and doesn’t know the details, but he says the rule has been much debated.
– There is an ongoing debate about whether the regulations should be this way. I know many lifters want to change this. At the same time, there are many who would like to maintain this status, Duun writes in an email to NRK.
– Many want change and many want it the way it is. My answer here is that I do not wish to give my opinion on this matter as long as the European Commission continues behavior, and that the question comes as a result of a decision in a particular elevator during the European Commission. As foreman of the jury, everyone should be able to expect me to follow the rules one hundred percent.
Årdalsbakke is one of those who want change. Also about how judge evaluation works.
– I think there should be a rule that when the judges make a unanimous decision, the jury should not be allowed to come in and change it. It says either red or white.
NRK attempted to contact the chairman of the jury that judged Årdalsbakke, but was told that the person concerned did not wish to provide any further comment beyond Duun’s statement.
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