Intro and small talk
Cheryl Hayworth is a name any American interested in Weightlifting needs to know.  She is one of, maybe only second to Tommy Kono, the most decorated American Weightlifters in the country.  Competing so long and so successful she has forged some great relationships and created wonderful memories; two things I learned that she prioritizes over any metal.
[3:31]
Cheryl discusses how she came to develop a relationship with Texas Barbell head Coach Ursula Garza Papandrea and a clinic the two will be heading up just outside of Austin Texas.  Click here for details and to purchase your spot!
[7:26]
We learn where Cheryl will be coaching in Hong Kong and the friends who she will rely on to help her develop as a coach.
[9:46]
Cheryl discusses how, although her body type may not fit the norm, why she is a well-balanced, confident and a happy person.  According to Cheryl the key is a support structure and being around people that could make her laugh.
[15:57]
Cheryl describes a scenario where she was able to use humor to diffuse a tense situation in a competitive setting.
[18:09]
Adversity is something all athletes have to manage.  Cheryl discusses adverse situations she was able to overcome.  One concerning an athlete she was coaching and another that involved blowing her elbow out while competing.
[25:15]
Cheryl is asked to describe the support structure that made it possible for for her overcome a destroyed elbow to win Nationals and qualify for the Olympics.
[30:00]
Cheryl discusses the influence and history of her mother.  Both of which contribute to Cheryl pursuing her dreams.  Cheryl’s mom wanted to be a brick mason but her father wouldn’t allow it.  Later in life she pursued the air force in hopes of becoming an astronaut but was also denied.  That lack of opportunity pushed Cheryl’s mom to allow her daughters to pursue and experience whatever their heart desired.
[33:41]
Cheryl is now pursuing a coaching career of her own and discusses how her baggage as a human and athlete are currently effecting her interactions with athletes.   During this part of the discussion we also find out that Cheryl was often terrible in practice.  In her mind she felt that her spirit as a world class procrastinator was the culprit.  She didn’t hold back during training but couldn’t tap into that same fire that the competition setting presented.
[37:39]
I play devil’s advocate with Cheryl and ask her if she believed the competition volume impacted the longevity of her career.
[39:53]
We get into training specifics and Cheryl discusses ways that she may have adapted her training as a youth and competitive Weightlifter looking back.  In her opinion she was never very strong and would have also spent more time learning the power variations.  This is also a portion of the conversation where we learn why Don McCauley named Cheryl the Princess and the Pea.  Looking back what Cheryl would have worked on would have been stability, especially in her elbows, and body building work to support her upper body.  Her lower back was always a place of weakness that she would have spent some more time training.
[44:37]
Cheryl describes how the short comings in her own training will impact her coaching of future athletes.  As a coach Cheryl wants her athletes to be in the sport of Weightlifting for the long haul and believes coaches can get into trouble when they find a strong athlete and test the limits of their athleticism to early.
[47:57]
Cheryl discusses how being humble can help coaches and athletes.
[49:30]
The subject of divisiveness in the coaching profession is discussed.  She also discusses why she choose to coach with Ed Haynes at Coastal Fitness in Hong Kong.