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Exclusive Interview with Marcus STEPHEN of From weightlifter to President of the Republic

of the Olympic Movement. Let us quote Paul Coffa's words: "I have known Mar- cus since he started weightlift- ing in in 1986 and I had the pleasure of coaching him for 16 years until his retirement from com- petition in 2002. Marcus has always been a humble indi- vidual. He was a tremendous competitor and admired and respected by all who know him. A true champion. Through the friendly and humble nature of Marcus, Dr. Tamás Aján, President of the IWF took an interest in the small island nation of Nauru. He made all efforts to ensure that Nauru became a member of the IOC in 1994, which finally enabled Marcus Stephen to compete at the Olympic Games for his country.” In the 28 years of publish- Marcus lifting in how to correctly address And this Champion has ing World Weightlifting Guangzhou the 1995 World him. been elected to President we have written and print- Championships of the Republic of Nauru! ed 106 issues. In all these Discovered and coached by Despite having risen to years the magazine has fea- the positive dynamic of rank and eminence, he has tured many an interview, the 107th edition of World Oceania weightlifting Paul remained the same Marcus reports and conversations Weightlifting, we are Coffa, Marcus Stephen - or Stephen as we used to with champions, weightlift- a little embarrassed. This should we henceforth duly know him. Even amidst his ing officials, experts, is the first time when the address him "His Excellency official schedule involving Olympic leaders. President of a Republic is Marcus Stephen"? - actually the UN, other Heads of This time, when putting giving us an exclusive inter- put Nauru on the map State and ministers, he took together the manuscript of view. Our first dilemma is of weightlifting and finally the time and effort to

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answer our questions for To travel the world, to win What did weightlifting but in other categories you World Weightlifting. competitions and medals in mean in your life? How did helped in as a loader. Do Weightlifting is very proud Europe, Commonwealth this beautiful but difficult you like to give a hand? of you, Your Excellency! Games, World Champi- sport help you get along in Thank you for enriching onships, top ten at the other areas of your life? “During that Championship this sport and we wish you Olympics was never ever my last 2 lifts in the clean & to be as successful for your heard of for a Nauruan.” “Weightlifting will always be jerk was to break the world country as its President as “Did I ever reach my goals? part of my life. No matter record when the new cate- you used to be as a com- To be honest, no, I wanted to what I do, where I go, all the gories were introduced and petitor. be world champion in the people I meet know about my standard world records were clean and jerk. But now hav- career in weightlifting. Even given. After my session, I was What are your reflections ing time on my side to remi- Heads of States, Vice Presi- loading for the next division. on your weightlifter's nisce, there were great cham- dents of Countries, Ministers, To me then, I did not consider career? Did you reach your pions in my era. The likes business people and almost myself any better that my goals or have any of your of Suleymanoglu, Chinese every person in the Pacific training partners who were dreams remained unful- lifters, Peshalov, Sabanis and region have heard of my the loaders. I enjoyed their filled? many more who are in the name.” friendship and camaraderie same level. So to go back and “Weightlifting to me is a very and I wanted to be with them “My weightlifting career was think, was it really possible to tough sport. It is not a sport and be part of the World fantastic considering where achieve my dream with such for the weak hearted. You go Championship even though I came from. Nauru is only great people and athletes? through many pain barriers, I was lifting. Part of our 10,000 people and during Maybe no but this did not many mental barriers that training then and even with those days any athlete from register when I was compet- sometimes you think is not Nauruan lifters now is to be Nauru would normally come ing. We all have two arms possible. This is where humble.” last in regional competitions. and two legs.” weightlifting has assisted me through my career. The bur- What will be your connec- den and pressure expected of tion to weightlifting in the you by the nation to perform future? Since you stopped for many years assist me to your active career have you cope with pressures of work. been working out at all? The only difference is that If yes, will you have time to with work there is more Team continue some training? consensus and participation on resolutions.” “I am still involved with pro- grammes and assisting with What is your professional competition in Nauru. My qualification? involvement with the Nauru Olympic Committee as Secre- “I did my High school in tary General ensures that Melbourne, at a weightlifting remains the Catholic Boarding school priority sport because of its (St. Bedes College, Mentone). success internationally and During my weightlifting days, they deserve every assistance I managed to finish my Asso- they get.” ciate Diploma in Business “In terms of training, no majoring in Accounting at the I have not had one training Royal Melbourne Institute session since 2002.” of Technology. Since my return to Nauru, I have held What is your concept con- many positions from Chair- cerning the development of man of the Bank of Nauru, sports in Nauru? Do you Chairman of the Nauru Fish- have a project? eries & Marine Resources Authority and held many “Again, my involvement with Ministerial portfolios before the Nauru Olympic Commit- becoming President.” tee is to promote and build new infrastructures for all We remember that you sports. We also realise that lifted in the World Champi- being very small in population onships in Melbourne, we have to have a practical approach and realise we cannot be competitive in all At the 1998 World sports. We know our limita- Championships in Lahti tions and we concentrate on

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taught me about THE train- most of it whilst you are ing. It opened my eyes and young. You can never rewind showed me what is required. time so that you can correct I had two fantastic arch rivals your mistakes. Finally, to the in Sev and Yurik and I did aspiring Olympians, good not shirk my task but compet- luck in Beijing!” ed in a friendly and healthy Marcus Stephen scored his environment that helped me greatest success in 1999, at achieve wonderful results.” the World Championships held in . He reached Apart from these outstand- the 300kg limit, winning ing weightlifters who were a silver medal in clean and your friends and training jerk with 172.5kg, trailing partners, who played an the Chinese world-record important part in your life? holder Le Maosheng. Among those he defeated “I think it will be wrong of me were Minchev, Peshalov, not to mention our godfather Sabanis, Oleschouk, Shi of weightlifting in Oceania. Zhiyong, Ikehata, Sarkisian Paul Coffa is an icon in Ocea- and Hafiz Suleymanoglu. At the Opening Ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth nia and a very well known At the in Melbourne with his “stepfather” Paul Coffa and respected person in the Games in Auckland in weightlifting World. Paul has 1990, he won 1 gold and been very instrumental in my 2 silver medals. In Victoria a few power sports that suit “In my humble opinion, career and this is an opportuni- in 1994 he won 3 gold our natural build. Such sports Naim by far is the greatest. ty for me to say thank you for medals, and he won anoth- as weightlifting, judo, taek- He was like the Michael Jor- everything. Even though we are er 3 gold medals in Kuala wondo and boxing are ideal dan in basketball. It was a thousands of miles apart, we Lumpur in 1998. Then he for our natural build.” privilege to see him in action. have managed to stay in touch. went on to win 3 silver Even when I was competing Maybe this Beijing Olympic medals at in You participated in three against him, I really respected Games we will see the first 2002. Besides, he was Olympic Games. What are and admired him.” Pacific lifter to win a medal Oceania Champion 12 your expectations from the “I have also had the privilege and you can bet that Paul has times between 1988 and competitions in Beijing to meet and train with Nicu that golden touch involved.” 2000, and collected 12 gold 2008? Would you eventually Vlad, Blagoi Blagoev, Sev- “One more special thanks to medals at South Pacific name a few gold-medal dalin Marinov, Kiril Kunev, one special person, Dr Tamas Games and Mini Games. favourites? Stefan Botev and another of Ajan.” In 2005 he became a mem- my arch rival in Yurik Sark- “And let me take this opportu- ber of the Weightlifting “I participated in Barcelona in isian. They are all champions nity and this channel to thank Hall of Fame. 1992 for Samoa, in their own right and fantas- you everyone and to all my 1996 and Sydney 2000 for tic people. I learned so much. friends my very best wishes. Jenô Boskovics Nauru. The Olympic Games is The saying "seeing is believ- Life is too short and you and Anikó Németh-Móra the ultimate of all World ing", in my case it really should enjoy and make the Championships. The whole world are your audience and the success at any Olympic Games is non comparable. The Son of a Small Nation boasts a Great Career Even though I never won any medal at Olympic Games level, Year World Event World Ranking I have been told by friends who 1990 ------37th 60kg 255kg are medallist that it is really 1991 WC 9th 60kg 267.5kg 29th 60kg 267.5kg special. To me it is priceless.” 1992 OG 9th 60kg 275kg 26th 60kg 275kg “I expect the Chinese to be 1993 WC 8th 59kg 277.5kg 16th 59kg 277.5kg very strong in Beijing. I would 1994 ------26th 59kg 262.5kg name the Iranian super heavy 1995 WC 11th 59kg 282.5kg 12th 59kg 282.5kg weight defending champion 1996 OG --- 59kg --- 54th 64kg 270kg as my clear gold medal 1997 WC 8th 64kg 282.5kg 9th 64kg 295kg favourite.” 1998 WC 11th 62kg 287.5kg 13th 64kg 292.5kg 1999 WC 7th 62kg 300kg 9th 62kg 300kg Who do you consider as the 2000 OG 11th 62kg 285kg 18th 62kg 285kg greatest weightlifters of the 2001 ------last few decades and of the 2002 ------32th 62kg 265kg present? Did you have any role-model weightlifter?

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