After working in elite Chinese Olympic weightlifting for over 7 years and witnessing the great retirement wave of 2025, which was the 15th National Games. I can’t help but think of Andy’s quote from the office, “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you have actually left them” and not just think about how short many athletes’ careers at the top are but what a privilege it is to be able to help athletes and be with them during this short phase of t

Anyone who has worked in the Chinese National Sporting system before will be able to tell you that most coaches believe in the basic maxim that more and harder is always better. But within a system that, for many sports, blends Soviet training models with Chinese characteristics and modern technology, a wide range of interesting and challenging ideas and practices can emerge. Weightlifting is one of the early specialisation sports that thrives in China and often leads athlete

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body (Lis & Baar, 2019). Collagen types I, II and III contribute significantly to the structure and strength of bone, tendon, cartilage and muscle tissue (Zdzieblik et al., 2021). Mechanical loading stimulates collagen turnover, necessitating increased collagen synthesis to maintain tissue strength and integrity (Lis & Baar, 2019). However, repetitive mechanical loading can impair connective tissue structure, contributing to