Train like a Beginner - WIN the Olympics feat. Olivia Reeves

[@kevindittler6524]

Recovery is the key, she also sleeps about 10 hours a day & eats overall very well. Same key for Masters lifters.

[@62cripple]

Same as Mitch Hooper....💪😎🍺🇳🇿

[@peterk3028]

Whats her diet like?

[@kevindittler6524]

@ overall good she will on occasion have pizza or a little bit of chunkier type food usually on post heavy heavy training days but still make sure that she has an adequate amount of protein and spinach salads type foods. Parents are also very healthy food conscious as well as the rest of the family, she’s in a very good atmosphere to contribute to eating well. I really do think Steve has kind of found the right combination in her training, I have adjusted mine accordingly and have seen some good results actually making gains at 60 years old.

[@iowa_don]

I love her happy smile when she makes a personal best on the platform. Pure Gold!!

[@elliotlftng]

It's so impressive to me that she just trusts the process and does what she needs to do to train optimally. I love watching the bulgarians hammering away for hours day after day in the 80s, and obviously that works amazingly well.... But, as they say, any fool can be tough...

[@grraf1]

What the bulgarians are doing is counter productive if: the athlete is a heavy weight or older as this is a recipe for over-training&injury(notice how you don't see that many of them competing past 30yrs old) The more massive/older an athlete gets in any strength sport the more rest he/she needs in between sessions to recover and by that I don't mean body building because there you are never working with anywhere close to maximal loads and most of the time is spent on machines that don't allow anything bad to happen in case you reach failure (safeties are in place). Only time the bulgarian approach is warranted is during the early years of a lifter when technique has to get drilled in on a daily basis to perfect it and while the lifter is still very young and has got very good recovery potential(as hes still a teenager/ in hes early twenties)

[@margusiraptor9729]

​@@grraf1 this makes a lot of sense!

[@thomaswang225]

If you can say fool can be tough I can tell you don’t even know what is maxed out in they gym. just go get Chinese weightlifting team program and try run it for a week, then come back again say any fool can be tough lol

[@nickwysoczanskyj785]

There’s talent, and then there’s what Olivia Reeves has. She’s genuinely next level. Such an interesting insight into her training. Which, unlike the average elite athlete’s training: I can actually use...(even as a talentless 45 year old)!

[@mftmachining]

Olivia is brutally strong. I really like her, always a pleasure to watch. A really good rolemodel in terms of dedication and grit. A true great sportswoman.

[@janedoe2509]

great insight into how she trains. I love watching her, she is a beast

[@sneeuwballa]

Gregor and david, these videos you guys have been making the last years have really been hitting it out of the park each time. Such great content qualitatively. You actually shine a light on things I want to know and fully delve into them rather than just paying lip service. Great job guys!

[@sebastiannai4381]

Olivia Reeves is awesome, more people need to know about her

[@Danilyn_Livao]

It’s fascinating to learn about her unique training approach and how it led to her Olympic gold in Paris 2024. Your deep dive into her methods was both insightful and motivating-she truly redefines what it takes to be at the top of the game. A fantastic look into the dedication and mindset of a champion!

[@oraclegps]

THis was excellent video it changed my training and how i think about it.

[@jmcsquared18]

In my view, "training like a beginner" is the wrong way to think about it. Training without sufficient rest is not training, it's beating yourself half to death. Without adequate recovery, progress cannot happen, regardless of the program.

[@michalmajernik]

beginners can rest

[@WatchMeLiftt67]

If that’s how you choose to think about it, then yeah. When I hear ‘train like a beginner” I think Fundementals, repetition, nothing fancy, trying to master the basics as best you can. No fancy complexes or crazy things, just good old fashioned weightlifting.

[@jmcsquared18]

@@michalmajernik everyone should rest. When advanced lifters decide not to, that is when they get injured. Recovery is even more important for advanced lfters.

[@2o3ief]

​@@WatchMeLiftt67The video explicitly high lights the frequency difference between her and most world class weightlifters when it makes the "train like a beginner" comment. So OP comment is a natural response as that is the way we are presented to think about it

[@SomeYouTubeGuy]

You don't improve in the gym, you improve when your asleep quote Arnie (Not exactly word for word but close enough)

[@chc84]

Great video! Love learning about these training approaches and she's such a great athlete.

[@Grch500]

Awesome stuff. I would like to maybe get your take on video in regards to the conjugate system for OLY LIFTING, not necessarily the westside style but maybe when it first started back in the old Soviet days.

[@MichaelBois-b1m]

Many years ago I trained at the Sports Palace, which was operated by Jim Schmitz. What Olivia describes is quite similar to the programs created by Jim. Furthermore, I recall that Mario Martinez, who was coached by Jim, would self-regulate by making adjustments to a workout according to how he was performing on that particular day. Worked pretty well for him.

[@kg4024-z2z]

Schmitz's lifters trained three days a week, and most held full-time jobs. I believe he coached 11 Olympians, and his team won the national championships seven times.

[@arthuradjamoglian2418]

Menzter fans going to have a field day with this one

[@mcculloughmethod6912]

I wonder how much of this is also what is called “beginner’s mind” in Zen - having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying, even at an advanced level, just as a beginner would.

[@tonyteh]

oh this video is gonna be so helpful for those who could only train max 3 days a week

[@XRP_NP]

Great video! If I had to critique anything, I would like to see a bit more of Olivia and the actual interview. That being said, I'm sure a lot of people who don't read between the lines very well would benefit from the small inferences.

[@alcopersino7855]

One of my favorite athletes in the world.

[@TheGudeGym]

The philosophy of her training sounds a great deal like what Tommy Kono tried to teach for years through his seminars, books, and ABCs of weightlifting articles.

[@Yupppi]

it's impressive and somewhat unorthodox as far as I understand that someone can keep making progress for ten years without altering the training. And also many professional lifters would probably say their technique/lifting would degenerate from going back to that kind of program. There are seemingly as many ways to the top as there are people, as we've seen lifters from different systems rise to the top.

[@christianwijaya6906]

Olivia Reeves Interview🔥

[@allthingsgym]

🥇 🥇 🥇

[@Rexthehex837]

She's incredible for sure 👍

[@DylanJM7]

She meant 80% for 15 total reps surely (i.e. 3x5 or 3x5)? Rather than sets of 15?

[@mcculloughmethod6912]

Definitely total reps - could be 3x5, 5x3, 8x2, 15x1

[@milanojudo]

Sounds like Prilepin's chart maybe. 2-4 reps per set and 10-20 total reps @ 80%

[@LeGou]

Probably not. There are a lot of these old school approaches. Top 5 , top 10, top 20. Just depends on your goals

[@wellnessmedia8638]

Sets up to 15 reps with 80% weight = up to 15 reps per set. The interviewer repeats that quite clearly.

[@Rorschachs_Bloat]

​​@@wellnessmedia8638If you can do 15 reps of 80% 1rm your 1rm is probably wrong. 15 reps would be something like 65-67.5% 1rm and that would be 100% relative intensity.

[@caleb2159]

Most powerlifting/strength programs that I've seen/had success with were four days max. You could an extra day of accessory work but if it messed with the recovery you would cut it out.

[@steakandcoffee1342]

Her coach is one of the best in the world. It was only a matter of time.

[@toorajmansoori9084]

Thank you

[@00-EIFFEL]

She's amazing.

[@curtisgorkoff7519]

How long is her warm up in addition to that 90 minutes?

[@donpowers8726]

Back in the 60's there was a superheavy. ( Joe Dube) who did high rep squats with big weights. Sets of 15 I believe not sure of the weight.

[@donpowers8726]

Back in the 60's there was an American lifter ( Ernie Pickett ?) He was STRONG took some time work on technique and speeed. His lifts went down. Back to strength work, lifts went up. Have to find your balance.

[@bmstylee]

Training like a beginner isn't a bad thing. Why make it harder than absolutely necessary? I've been training for for 25 years and I love running 5/3/1. Why? Because it keeps working.

[@akaegotist]

its extremely likely that success in a low workout frequency is closely tied to the athletes proficiency of using their body and muscular recall ability for the technique. Athletes who begin younger, have more experience, or have a higher natural aptitude for muscular recall have the potential for success on less frequent training schedules. Those begining later in life, having less experience in the gym or lifts, and/or have a lower aptitude for muscular recall should train frequently in a manner that most compliments their deficiency e.g. more frequency to become more competent (caveat, not necessarily heavy/intense training required, but challenging enough to challenge maintenance of technique and muscle recruitment)

[@lumb3rj0e]

Huge emphasis on the importance of strength training. I think for the initial stages, focus on technique should be the goal, but you can have the best technique and still get dominated by a powerlifter with meh form in weightlifting who has monster numbers in SBD

[@Kobe005]

I like that her coach allows her to still do absolutely ridiculous movements like bench pressing

[@ben94_]

Phenomenal strength

[@AlexWindover]

did she mention deloads?

[@inaifdz]

this is gold

[@allthingsgym]

Thanks!

[@shawnstangeland3011]

Incredible performance

[@allthingsgym]

Full Length Interview with Olivia on our Patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/podcast-olivia-108175334

[@lars277]

Don't worry Olivia. You will get another chance at a 122kg snatch. You looked strong, as usual at Worlds in Bahrain.

[@stevobear4647]

Lower frequency training is probably better for body health overall and probably less "pharmaceuticals" needed.

[@rchauer]

There has been a generational loss of coaching wisdom. Many younger coaches push their talented athletes into too many training sessions too soon, resulting in unnecessary injury and burnout. 20 years ago when I started coaching, the now mostly retired senior coaches at that time advocated for “less is more” for their beginner and intermediate athletes. I recall one coach telling me he would not increase from 3 days a week training to 4 days a week until the athlete had 2-3 years of consistent work under their belts. Indeed, I knew several National level junior and senior athletes at that time who trained 3 days a week until they were college age. The old Soviet system (which still has the most well documented scientific data on weightlifting training) called the process of gradually progressing athletes “work hardening.” Olivia’s coach is doing it right and looking after the overall well bing of his athlete. Old school but her progress and results speak volumes.

[@thomaswang225]

So you are calling out that entire Chinese weightlifting team and even Kuo from Taiwan train twice a day is wrong lmao? How can you master a highly technical lift by just training like a bodybuilder

[@rchauer]

@ no but I will call out your severe lack of reading comprehension. Twice a day three days a week plus once a day 3 days a week ( 9 workouts weekly) was a common schedule for the resident elites at the OTC when USAW was still a resident sport there. Similar and even more loadings are absolutely necessary for most advanced and elite level lifters, who already have largely mastered the technical skills. The primary reason for multiple daily workouts is the amount of annual tonnage required to produce a training effect at the elite level can’t be done in single daily work out. It is also easier to recover from shorter multiple daily workouts of 3 hrs each than say 1 six hour workout. It takes years of systematic progressive loading to handle that amount of volume and training frequency. Beginners and intermediates are not elites and should not (and can’t actually) train as such. Olivia is a great talent who has responded phenomenally to the training she has been doin and is clearly a high responder. She has also not been in the sport that long. She will continue to improve and over time will need to increase her workout frequency to do so. The point being that training age in the sport matters and imo and she has been handled appropriately. The other point I was making is less savvy coaches often push their talented lifters too much too soon, breaking them.

[@allthingsgym]

ATG Rep Max Calculator ➤ www.allthingsgym.com/rep-max-calculator/

[@1000JackFoster]

Спасибо!

[@stoneHeHenge]

'Science' training bros are SEETHING right now

[@trippmorris690]

This is a very scientific approach. First principle thinking...the minimum effective dosage should always be used when it comes to stressing an athlete to elicit a response. Steve Fauer is a smart coach.

[@2011Rick]

I wonder what she can bench given it's only a fun diversion from her training. Her squat, at 480+ lbs., isn't shabby:)

[@Timothyshannon-fz4jx]

Probably for her weight the strongest lifter in the world period!!

[@johntwineham6015]

Advantage of being old and retired, workout, day off, workout, and so on; nothing you have to do any particular day. Disadvantage? Need deload after a max of 4 weeks, sometimes less. And powerlifting for me; old joints and balance would make olympic lifts scary, no matter how light the weight.

[@sdoieqwfjhweoiuhasdo]

The strongest and the cutest 😍

[@YKSMEDIA]

It's annoying how good Olivia is.

[@morgant6508]

30 min x 3 = 1h30 + warm up?? It is close to 2h. X3 Is enough. I got best improve in weightlifting with 3 or 4 days a week. I don't know why weightlifting training have huge volume in general and 36000 exercices.

[@laurahamer9165]

Bulgarian legends , that stuff was insane 6 sessions a day 45 min work ups of 12 sets of 1 or 2 reps . Sulamongalu article in sports illustrated 1985 or 1986 , they even talked about the myths of hyper plasia

[@thomaswang225]

Why I just don’t believe you can master the technique of Cj and snatch by just training like a bodybuilder lmao She is just one exception lmao, you cant really compare yourself to one Olympic lifter. If you go look any sport in Olympic, or just even Chinese weightlifting team you will find they train at least 5 times a wee, Kuo xincun trains twice a day, six days a week,look at any sports like fighting, basketball, soccer, that’s how you become the top tier. Don’t fool yourself you can be great just by training g like her 🤣 let alone 99.999% of viewers can’t even remotely close to her intensity, so if you want to improve, training more, especially improving your technique, the only way is to practice more. It is mind boggling to find so many ppl think you can get to top level without suffering but just training smart lmao. It is ridiculous to even fathom your volume and intensity to Olympic athletes

[@peterk3028]

Its hard to know whats what these days.

[@bleepitybloopy]

This isn't training like a bodybuilder though, it's a lot more similar to strength training in the vein of powerlifting. Majority of bodybuilders run muscle group splits or Push Pull Legs, pushing 5 to 6 sessions a week. Among the pros it isn't uncommon to train 2x a day. So no, she isn't training like a bodybuilder.

[@peter-5354]

So she can train for only 90mins a couple times a week and do better than every other pro training sometimes twice a day?

[@Kungfulu77]

One armed snatches 😮😅😮😂

[@KwisBwown]

❤❤❤❤

[@KJMonk]

Don’t matter when you start or how great you are You Won’t Get To The Olympics This was the last year of weightlifting 🏋🏼 in the Olympics

[@Mr.Ciobanu]

Wait for my shout out in 28

[@Timothyshannon-fz4jx]

This suggest the others are OVER TRAINING, and there bodies are not recovering properly betreen work outs

[@KimJongsMom]

Looking fine 🌹

[@barbellsandwindmills]

Can he not say "Strength" ?

[@dcallins]

If she got her Deadlift up to at 225kg (at least match her squat), Bench Press up to bodyweight and Press up she'd clean and snatch even more, obviously CJ more also.

[@fabiobonetta5454]

Cross-fit will be happy to have done at least one good thing before vanishing into oblivion: give the world the greatest Olympic weightlifter in US history

[@TIO540S1]

With apologies to the GOAT, Mark Twain, rumors of Crossfit’s death are greatly exaggerated.

[@peterk3028]

Does her coach have success with this low frequency training with his other athletes? Or is Olivia an anomaly that can do well with this. The Chinese do much more and dominate.

[@PuffyBroccolini]

LMAO imagine if she up her training volume as long as she doesn't get injured she's gonna shatter records at LA 28

[@jmcsquared18]

She is training at the correct volume. Training without sufficient recovery is not training anymore. It's damaging.

[@mojohn1634]

Clarence Kennedy got his training volume upped by Polish coaches and ended up needing two knee surgeries.

[@clintiacuone1703]

Why would she go her volume if what she’s doing is working for her?! The advantage of how she’s currently training is she can work at much higher relative intensities to someone who trains higher volume/frequency She is less likely to get hurt than the person who trains 8-10 sessions a week

[@colossusofrhodes1282]

She’s cute too and still very feminine 💪 😮

[@meathook3000]

This is what the Olympics has been reduced to. Rest in pepperonis.