It is September and the Olympic Games have commenced their second week. - frozen, cold outside - nuclear winter - global warming came, fked shit up for a while - volcano went off nature showing man how it's done man in hubris believed he would kill himself - now everywhere is cold except which is a lava covered hellscape ## Gymnastic Weightlifting athlete steps up to a standing rack with a barbell 120kg division, two red 25kg plates on each side steps up, gives the bar a quick caress gracefully racks it on his chest clock starts at 01:00 bar barely moving as core tenses and spine prepares itself performs perfect front squat very slowly, then 2 more fast another slow rep and then lowers it to the ground one quiet but solid thump as it lands good points for that, bounces are deducted routine clock ticks 00:45 does a solid sumo deadlift, good triangulation in the legs, very symmetrical lowers it, 2 thuds, imperceptibly winces ( brief interlude of some kind of trauma ) blinks as the routine clock ticks 00:40.00128s feet come to shoulder width camera tech shows an angle of 1.58deg and -0.89deg on left and right respectively does a second deadlift, this time conventional strong back engagement, no noticible spine curling movement finishes with hip to skull angle of 4.322 deg past vertical lowers once again, almost silent, 43db deep breath, dignified exhultation of > hup power clean, very smooth catch a short pause, gathering of breath flashing of cameras tiny flecks of chalk floating through the air visible in the beams of the stage lighting settle upon the eyelashes eyes widen ever so slightly as athlete inhales overhead presses the bar, strict form obviously returned to the popularity of previous years due to this very event bench press which was preminent king of lifts maintained its status in powerlifting but the overhead press as a common part of the gymnastic routine became much more popular for amateur lifters and reclaimed some of its former prestige bar brought down to the front rack where it began the routine bounces just above the crest of flashing silver on the uniform some competing schools of competition in how a routine should end ### as it began shows great symmetry aesthetically satisfying ### behind the head allows for an extra back squat with the weight, demonstrating endurance back squat also very popular as a first move in heavier divisions no bar between athlete and judges makes for a more artistic finish as the athlete is completely visible (the author's preference) ### on the ground places importance on a clean and solid ground placement auditory element makes for an emphatic finish racks are behind the athlete and they strongly, but somewhat awkwardly back into it and unrack clock strikes 00:00 solid performance, crowd cheers etc