World Championships in Yangon: Ott Kiivikas
In November 2001, the World Championships took Ott Kiivikas to a place that seemed very far away from Estonia: Bangkok, Myanmar and Yangon. This is the athlete’s interim report on the journey, the final preparations, the food poisoning and the IFBB congress, where doping control was a major topic.
The World Championships began with a long journey
On November 19, I said goodbye to the people who had come to see me off at Tallinn Airport. An 11-hour journey lay ahead, and to be honest, I was a little excited, not to say nervous. Everything went as planned, though, and on November 20 I was already in Bangkok at half past one in the afternoon, local time.
The hotel booking was in order, and in the evening I was able to fit in a light workout. The advertised fitness center, however, wasn’t quite what an athlete wants right before a competition. Old machines and battered dumbbells sent me looking for a better place. Following the locals’ directions, I found a suitable gym a couple of hundred meters from the hotel.
There I got another surprise: an open-air gym overlooking a two-level highway. Everyone training was dressed the same. It soon turned out that every gym user was handed a club uniform to wear, me included. Prices were affordable: 20 kroons per workout and 2 kroons for a bottle of water. The only really annoying thing was the exhaust fumes from the highway.
Even so, I did two final pre-Worlds workouts there the next day. In a situation like that, an athlete no longer looks for comfort. You just look for a place where you can keep your muscles toned and calm your head.
Yangon, the heat and the congress agenda
On the morning of November 22, we flew to Myanmar, to Yangon, also known as Rangoon, the former capital of Burma. By then I was already starting to get used to the time difference. With Bangkok it is a five-hour difference, with Myanmar 4.5 hours. So when I was having breakfast there, it was only a little past two in the morning in Estonia. I went to bed between five and six in the evening, Estonian time.
Customs went smoothly. At one point the passports of mine and of the other competitors who had arrived on the same trip were collected, and they were returned a little later without any major fuss. It was 30 degrees outside, but inside the airport the air conditioning kept it pleasantly cool. A crowd of curious onlookers and a good handful of local press were waiting for us.
We stayed at the Royal Yangon Hotel. On the day of arrival there was the usual formal dinner, and we went over the schedule for the World Championships. The meeting of the European countries was attended by representatives of 22 countries. Chaired by IFBB Vice President Rafael Santonja, it reviewed the annual report and made plans for the near future.
The number one topic of the day was doping. It was decided that the 2002 European Championships will take place in Minsk on May 17–20. Russia came forward with a wish to host the 2003 European Championships; the request was granted and the event was awarded to St. Petersburg. On the fitness side, one more important change stood out: the share of acrobatic elements will be reduced so that more competitors can take the stage.
After the congress, we were taken on a three-hour tour of the city, which has a population of five million. Since it was another hot day in Yangon, it turned into more of a bus ride, with a guide telling us about the country’s history and culture. Seeing the golden temples and the Golden Palace was an experience in its own right, though.
The World Championships and an unexpected health scare
That evening started out normally. First, the weigh-in: 88.7 kilos. There were 20 competitors in total in the body weight class up to 90 kg. After dinner I went to bed, but three hours later I woke up feeling very bad.
Cold sweat, vomiting and complete weakness. The whole ordeal lasted until morning, so I couldn’t sleep any more. In the morning I told the Finnish athlete Pettri Pentila what had happened. He ate a little, then got up from the table and said that now he was feeling sick too.
It later turned out that Pettri Pentila’s poisoning was even more serious than mine, and he spent a couple of days flat on his back at the hotel. I got a few pills from the doctor. For a body worn down by a four-month diet, all of this was a heavy blow. The question that arose was a simple one: could I compete at all?
I decided to go on stage anyway. I could see that even feeling this poorly, it was possible to aim for the top 15, that is, the semifinal. But even that did not go smoothly. I was down in the hotel lobby quite early. The competitors from the lighter classes took the bus, which left at nine. The heavier ones were supposed to set off from the hotel at noon, but at half past eleven there was still nobody in sight.
When I asked where the competitors were, I was simply told that they would come. Soon there was a phone call from the venue: a man from the ninety-kilo class was missing. Naturally, I was then rushed there under police escort. Getting around the streets of the capital was normally very difficult.
When I arrived, I saw that my competitors were ready: stage makeup done, muscles pumped up. I quickly did my own makeup too, but the pump just wouldn’t come. Weak as could be. My World Championships ended with the prejudging round. I think I weighed about 85 kilos on stage. The Finn never even made it to the stage.
What did the World Championships mean for the federation?
On November 25, the IFBB congress was held, with 55 countries taking part. The main topic was once again doping and stepping up testing. The goal was to get into the Olympics, which is why there was a lot of talk about how to make the rules stricter.
In addition to the vice presidents’ reports, the annual reports of the continental representatives were heard. The date and venue of the 2002 World Championships were set: 24-27 October in Cairo. It was also made clear that each country’s national championships must be held no later than 14 days before the World Championships final.
The federation retained responsibility for making sure that any athlete sent to a major competition has passed doping control at the Olympic Committee laboratory. Offenders receive a two-year competition ban and a 2000 dollar fine. If an athlete is initially clean in testing but gets caught later, the fine must be paid by the athlete personally.
The closing of the World Championships was a festive occasion. All 55 delegates and the finalists of six categories were on stage, and for the first time the program included the body weight class up to 60 kg. In my category, the contenders were familiar title-holders. The winner was Thomas Schen, who had also won gold four years earlier and had settled for silver in between.
The overall title went to Russia. Two competitors were disqualified: one for pulling their trunks between the buttocks, the other for tampering with the doping control. The closing celebration was held at the Inya Lake Hotel. For athletes who had been on a strict diet for a long time, it turned into a big feast, because for the first time in a long while they could enjoy normal food again.
FAQ
What body weight class did Ott Kiivikas compete in?
The weigh-in result was 88.7 kilos, and the competition was in the up-to-90 kg body weight class, which had 20 competitors in total.
What happened before going on stage?
After dinner, a strong feeling of sickness set in, along with cold sweats and vomiting. The same problem hit Finnish athlete Pettri Pentila.
Why was doping discussed so much at the IFBB congress?
The IFBB’s goal was to reach the Olympics, which is why doping control, the responsibility of national federations, and the rules on the two-year competition ban and 2000 dollar fine were emphasized.
Author: Ott Kiivikas
Source: WHO – physical activity.
Come and train! ArtGym
