American’s Strong-arm Tactics Produce Golds

BRISBANE, Australia —  When Cheryl Haworth was young, her father Bob took her to a weightlifting gym in Savannah, Ga., and said, “I’ve got the strongest girl in the world.”

Now 18, Haworth showed Thursday night she’s at least the strongest woman in the United States.

The Olympic bronze medalist set two U.S. records while winning three weightlifting gold medals at the Goodwill Games.

Haworth, who weighs about 300 pounds, lifted 2801/2 pounds in the snatch and 341 in the clean and jerk for a total of 6211/2 pounds. The clean and jerk and total weight were American marks, while the snatch was a personal best.

“I’ve never attempted that snatch before, ever,” Haworth said.

During that visit to the Paul Anderson-Howard Cohen gym, Cohen asked his wife to show Haworth some basic techniques while he and her father talked.

Haworth, eager to begin, picked up a 110-pound bar as though it were a stage prop and lifted it directly over her head.

“Is this how you want me to do it?” she asked.

“Michael,” Cohen’s wife said, “this is the strongest girl I’ve ever seen.”

While Haworth, also the bronze medalist at the 1999 World Championships, was adding to her credentials Thursday, another American teen-ager was making her mark.

Gymnast Holly Vise, of Dallas, won the bronze medal in the uneven bars. In her first big international meet, the 13-year-old Vise found herself on the medals podium with two-time world and Olympic champion Svetlana Khorkina.

“It was exciting,” said Vise, who spun cleanly through a difficult routine.

Khorkina won with 9.712 points in a seemingly effortless performance. Her Russian compatriot, Natalya Ziganshina, scored 9.425 and Vise followed with 9.212.

Meanwhile, Australia and the United States engaged in an exciting women’s swimming duel that ended with the Aussies winning their second round-robin in a row, 79.5 points to 69.5.

After a two-hour battle in 17 races, it was fitting that the competition finished with a rare dead heat in the 400-meter freestyle relay.

American winners included Tammie Stone in the 50-meter freestyle, Kirsten Caverly in the 200 breaststroke and 200 medley, and Ashley Chandler in the 400 free.