Paralympics: The Turkmen Power (Lifting) House

IMG_9901, originally uploaded by only1loopie.

Turkmenistan first participated in the paralympics in 2000 in powerlifting. In London, five Turkmen athletes are representing their country: 2 male power lifters, 2 female power lifters, and a male long jumper.

I was particularly surprised by the two women. This displays two of my internal prejudices that I should address. First, I just hadn’t thought of women participating. Second, I have a misconception that women in Central Asia don’t participate in sports.

In fact, Women made their Powerlifting debut at Sydney 2000 and the sport has continued to grow at a rapid rate ever since.

Valentina, from Turkmenistan, came in 7th in the women’s 67.5 kilo group. She benched 95 kilos! Jennet also came in 7th in the 75 kilo group. She benched 85 kilos. Considering that Jennet is 48 years old, I am very impressed!

And the classifications for powerlifting?

The classification rules of the International Federation for Powerlifting state that athletes with a physical impairment in their legs or hips, which would prohibit them compete in weightlifting are eligible to compete in the sport at the Paralympics.

Competitors are classified by bodyweight alone in Powerlifting: athletes with different impairments compete for the same medals.

Central Asia fun facts

Yesterday I showed you a map and promised future fun facts and photos. I am not there yet, so I will not be able to give you a lot, but I thought a small taste might be nice.  So, here is my first installmet of Central Asia Fun Facts:

Kazakhstan:

• It is the largest land locked country in the world.
• Kazakhstan has the 62^nd largest population in the world, with a density of less than 6 people per sq km.
• Kazakhstan will chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010.
• Kazakhstan became the first former Soviet republic to repay all of its debt to the IMF in 2000, seven years before it was due.
• It is nothing like Borat (which was filmed in Romania)

Kyrgystan:

• Tien Shan mountain range, which the country shares with China, covers approximately 75 percent of the whole territory.
• The ethnic group of Kyrgyz comprises of traditionally nomadic people, believed to have originally lived in southern Siberia.
• Kyrgyzstan is home to Inylchek Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the world.
• The walnut-fruit forests of Kyrgyzstan are amongst the largest natural walnut forests in the world.

Uzbekistan:

• The Muruntan gold mine in Uzbekistan is the world’s largest open pit gold mine.
• The territory of Uzbekistan is believed to have been populated since the second millennium BC.
• Uzbekistan is home to one of the largest deserts in the world, known as Kyzylkum, which also extends into Kazakhstan.
• In 2002, ancient pyramids were discovered by Russian and Uzbek archaeologists, in the Kashkadarya & Samarkand regions of Uzbekistan. They are believed to be as much as 2700 years old.
• In Uzbekistan, lipioshka (bread) is never laid upside down and is never put on the ground, even if it is in a bag.

Tajikistan:

• Nurek Dam, located in Tajikistan, is the highest dam in the world. See image here.
• A mountainous country, it has ninety percent of its area precipitous and rocky.
• Tajikistan was initially a part of the Samanid Empire, but was created as an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, within Uzbekistan, in 1924.
• More than fifty percent of Tajikistan land is over 3,000 meters (approx. 10,000 ft) above sea level.
• Created a law to limit the amount of people one can invite to a party (like a wedding) based on the household income in an effort to keep people from bankrupting themselves.

Turkmenistan:

• Around eighty percent of the landscape of Turkmenistan stands covered by Karakum Desert. This is one of the largest sand deserts of the world.
• The country’s natural gas reserves rank fifth in the whole world.
• Kugitang Reserve of Turkmenistan has a rock plateau imprinted with footprints of a dinosaur.
• Turkmenistan has been known throughout the world, since centuries, for its Turkmen carpets.
• Reported literacy rates in Turkmenistan are 98%.