Russell Prior

:: 8/30/2010: ALFONSO A RODRIGUEZ, PALM BAY FL, USA
THE MAN WAS NOT A GOOD TECHNICIAN OR STYLIST BUT WHAT HE LACKED IN TECHNIQUE AND FLEXIBILITY, HE MADE UP IN FIGHTING SPIRIT AND AGGRESIVENESS. THAT SPIRIT WON FOR HIM A VICTORY AT THE PAN AMS IN 1975 OVER MARK CAMERON FROM THE USA. CAMERON WAS STRONGER AND HAD A SUPERB TECHNIQUE BUT COULD ONLY COMPLETE FIRST ATTEMPS MISSING ALL SECOND AND THIRD ATTEMPTS IN BOTH SNATCH AND C&J WHILE RUSSELL PRIOR MADE ALL OF HIS ALLOWING A CLOSE BUT DEFINITE VICTORY. PRIOR WAS ALSO THE BENEFICIARY OF A GIFT ON HIS LAST C&J OF 446LBS WHEN HE TOUCHED HIS LEFT ELBOW WITH THE KNEE BUT WAS NOT CALLED OUT BY THE JUDGES AND COMPLETED THE LIFT. HAD CAMERON BEEN MORE AGGRESIVE INSTEAD OF JUST TRYING TO LOOK PRETTY AND SELECTED BETTER POUNDAGES HE WOULD HAVE WON EASILY BUT HE CHOSE TO JUMP 22LBS ON HIS SECOND ATTEMPTS ON BOTH LIFTS AND BARELY MISSED BUT MISSED NONETHE LESS. IT WAS FUN TO SEE PRIOR WALKING UP AND DOWN AND GROWLING A LION BACKSTAGE WHILE WAITING HIS TURN TO LIFT. HE KNEW HE COULD NOT MISS A SINGLE LIFT AND MANAGED HIMSELF WELL. HE DESERVED THE WIN ALTHOUGH HE WAS NOT THE MORE TALENTED LIFTER.

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