This week
July 02 2000

My training schedule was affected a little by some commitments last week which meant that I only had three mat sessions ( Monday, Thursday and Friday). However, I made the best out of the three sessions. I also compensated by working hard on the weights. My aim is to clean 270-280 pounds before the Olympics. Right now, I am a few pounds away. I find that my weight workouts have been tailored to my explosive wrestling style and are working really well. My trainer, Wayne Wilson is getting more excited with my progress as the days go by.

In the middle of the week, I had the opportunity to go to Toronto for an appearance for one my sponsors, general Mills. I was very impressed with the way they treated me, and I hope I did not disappoint. Judging from the standing ovation I got after I finished my speech, I believe the crowd there was pleased. I also had the opportunity to visit a sick children's hospital while in Toronto and read the children a story. It was the high light of my trip. It was great to see the children's faces light up just by my presence. Whether they understood what I was reading to them was secondary. At least they were excited by the pictures. Later in the week, I visited Issaquah, Washington, where I put on a wrestling clinic. The turn out was not the greatest, but I had a lot of fun working with some of the champions of tomorrow.

This coming week promises to be very intense. My coaches know that I was only on the mat three times last week, they'd want me to make up for all the lost mat time. I think I am ready for it too. I will take whatever they bring at me. As a soldier, I will handle whatever comes with the territory. After being rested up for the most part of last week, I have a feeling that my training partners will be having their hands full this week.

Keep sweating... Daniel (Dynamite) Igali.