Athletes Train for State Games

Tools

By MacLeod Hageman

Story Published: Jul 11, 2011 at 5:46 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 12, 2011 at 1:20 PM MDT

BILLINGS - Athletes of all ages set down the sweets and hit the streets; at least before the Big Sky State Games.

The Big Sky State Games kicked off its 26th year Friday with a superstar from the world of track and field to light the torch. "We try to bring in the olympics to Montana every year, and this year we're bringing in Jackie Joyner Kersee a six time olympic medalist, a fabulous ambassador for the track and field. She'll be lighting the torch later on in the evening," Big Sky State Games Executive Director; Karen Sanford Gall said.

The games highlight many sports besides track and field. Armwrestlers were among 1,000 athletes from around Montana competing. "It's a very competitive sport. People think the size of a man makes the difference, but actually a lot of it's in your heart, how badly you want to win, and how bad you want to practice," Big Sky State Games Armwrestling Commissioner; Bob Koschel said.

Koschel is a master referee for the World Armwrestling Federation, and he said the friendly competition is for everyone. "A lot of the arm wrestlers are really good friends and their kids grew up together, and it's really a family sport. It's not uncommon to see a grandchild, a mother and father and grandparents all competing at the same event," he said.

Organizers said they would like to involve more kids in the sport. "Kids love to arm wrestle everywhere they go and even church. If they know I'm an arm wrestler they want to try me and they want me to show them stuff," Armwrestling State Games Director; Jim Wright said.

Sixty-two year old Wright won second place in the world in 2010, and he said the sport takes a lot of training. "It's pretty gruesome for the one second, two second, ten seconds or one minute that you're on that table every muscle is involved. It's kind of like a takedown in wrestling."

About 60 athletes alone are expected to participate in the State Games armwrestling event. The entry deadline is Wednesday. The opening ceremony will kick off Friday at 5:30 at Daylis Stadium. For more information on the 2011 game click here.

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