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Tara Nott's insider weightlifting tips on proper squatting
By Administrator
 Tara is Nott just another woman. She is the first American woman to earn a weightlifting gold medal (2000 Sydney Olympic Games) and she is the only athlete in history to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in three different sports. She began her athletic career as a gymnast, before becoming an All-American women's soccer player. When she missed making the 1996 U.S. Olympic soccer team, Nott started weightlifting to keep in shape; at the time women's weightlifting was not even an Olympic sport.
Women's weightlifting made its debut at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and Nott took home the gold. Tara trains four hours, seven days a week, and her hard work and dedication have paid off. She is a holds five American records, is a four-time National champion and is one of only U.S. women who can clean and jerk twice her own body weight.
Get Off My Land!* Tips for Squatting
Tip #1
Position feet shoulder width or a bit wider apart. Toes should be slightly turned out.
Tip #2
Place the bar on the back of your shoulders. (This should be done using a squat rack that you can back out of with the bar on your shoulders) Also place your hands on the bar slightly wider than shoulder width to help support and stabilize the bar.
Tip #3
Descend slowly and under control into the squat position. At all times you must keep your spine straight and your heels on the floor. You should feel the pressure toward the back of your foot."
Tip #4
Squat as low as your flexibility will allow you. Your bottom position will be determined by your ability to keep flat feet, and a straight back.
Tip #5
Once you reach the bottom of the squat, push with your legs and return to the starting position. Always choose a weight that allows you to maintain good, safe form throughout all your repetitions.
* In the late 1700s, the act of squatting referred to someone who settled on property without right or title or payment of rent, which - while a major problem in early American history -- has little to do with Tara Nott, weightlifting or the tip presented here today, but the original headline, "Tips for Squatting," seemed a little too concise, so it was added for entertainment purposes only.
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