Mom Rules

U.S. weightlifter Melanie Roach was locked in, preparing to make one of her six lifts Sunday afternoon when a little voice pierced the silence from the stands in Section 109 at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Gymnasium: "Go Mom!"

There were a few chuckles across the gym, but Roach remained locked in, nailing that particular snatch lift -- part of a perfect six-for-six performance that resulted in a new American weight-class record of 193 kilograms, but no medal.

Afterwards, however, she acknowledged: "I'm pretty sure I heard a 'Go Mom!'" The voice belonged to Ethan Roach, age 7, who later owned up to the impromptu shout-out, as he waited for his Mom to emerge from doping control after the event.

According to Melanie Roach's own research, she is one of 20 moms in the U.S. athletic delegation at the Olympics. As these Games drew near, Roach, 34, figured she would retire from competition to focus on her family -- husband Dan, a state representative in Washington, and children Ethan, Drew and Camille.

But now she isn't so sure. She waited a long time to make it to the Olympics -- she was the top-rated American lifter in 2000 but suffered a herniated disc in her back three weeks before the U.S. trials, ending her hopes and launching an eight-year odyssey of failed comebacks and detours through motherhood -- and now that she's here, she has found she kind of enjoys it.

"I might have to do some negotiating" with Dan and the kids, she said Sunday.

Incidentally, the gold medal in Roach's 53-kilogram weight class went to the athlete with the longest name you are likely ever to see: Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon of Thailand.

That, folks, is 31 letters combined. Puts Texas Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (20 letters) to shame.

By Dave Sheinin  |  August 10, 2008; 6:33 AM ET  | Category:  Weightlifting
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