Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/124277
Olympic hopefuls mike's WOrkOut clAssics Mike Palefau practices with Waisale Serevi, known in his native Fiji as the "King of Sevens." playing professionally in France and italy, and with the u.s. national team, Mike's got a good chance of becoming an Olympian—something football would never have made possible. He's training for that dream at the waC. Fast and versatile rugby is a game of speed, power and endurance. Mike—like a lot of footballto-rugby converts—had to add the latter. "i used to be more of a pure speed guy," he says. "i'm more well-rounded now. still one of the fast guys on the field but a little more versatile." another football-turned-rugby player, Miles Craigwell, trains with Mike. the two Olympic hopefuls work out together at the waC most mornings at 5 o'clock. two world-class athletes dead-lifting and bench-pressing huge amounts of weight draw considerable attention. Mike and Miles both became waC members as part of the Club's successful athletic program, which has attracted younger members and helped the Club bring home national championships in basketball. "almost all of the athletic members use the Club a lot and bring in new members," vice President athletics wayne Milner says. in 2008, wayne expanded the program to include potential Olympians. athletes with a legitimate chance of making the u.s. Olympic team can apply. 30 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | MAY 2013 waC members can feel a sense of patriotic pride because—believe it or not—the u.s. has an Olympic gold medal to defend. rugby medals have been awarded in four Olympics, the last in 1924. the winner of that final tournament? the united states of america! even though the u.s. has been an also-ran at rugby's international level for generations, we have been, for 89 years, the reigning Olympic champs. "europeans hate that stat," Mike says. Father oF three as the father of three young kids, Mike moved to seattle to push his career forward while training for the Olympics. He took time off from his job at insurance brokerage Kibble & Prentice this past March to join usa rugby for tournaments in Hong Kong and Japan. Before it can try for a Cinderella run at defending its 1924 title, the u.s. must make the Olympic field. "Qualifying will be as hard as the Olympics," Mike says. the u.s. and Canada, two evenly matched teams, will likely compete for a single north american berth. Qualification for the Olympics is at least a year away, but it won't be far from Mike's mind. that means it won't be far from the waC either. —Seth Kolloen is a Seattle-based freelance writer. DeaD lift (photo below): From a deep squat, lift a heavy barbell off the ground to your waist. "A big movement for a big muscle." Bench press: Lying on your back, lower a heavy barbell to your chest and push it up again. "For strength and power." push press: rest a heavy barbell on your chest, then go into a squat and burst back up. Use your upward momentum to push the weight straight up above your head. "An explosive movement." Bicep curls: hold a dumbbell while standing and extend your arm to your waist. Lift the weight to your chest, bending your arm at the elbow. "Gotta work on the gun show!"