Local junior weightlifter selected for world team 05/30/03

Cody Gibbs, a Northwood High School junior and a member of the USA Weightlifting Development Center at LSUS, has been added to the USA Weightlifting Junior World Championship Team, and will compete with the team Friday (June 6) in Hermosilla, Mexico.

Dr. Kyle Pierce, an LSUS instructor and director of the USA Weightlifting Development Center, was notified Thursday (May 29) of Gibbs’ selection to the team. Pierce was in Hermosilla as a member of the International Weightlifting Federation Scientific and Research Committee.

Gibbs was named to the team after one of the eight men on the team had to drop out. Gibbs has been ranked ninth in the nation since the National Junior Championships in March. Rankings are based on a percentage of a qualifying total for each weight category.

Pierce said Gibbs is the first local weightlifter to compete in a world junior event. Pierce said he is not certain how many countries are scheduled to compete in the championships – the 29th men’s and 9th women’s junior world competition – but has “seen Russian and Greek coaches among others” in Hermosilla already. The competition begins Sunday (June 1) and ends Saturday, June 7.