WATERLOO -- An internationally renowned weightlifting coach hopes to turn a former Waterloo furniture store into a breeding ground for world-class athletes.

Jianping Ma is known in the weightlifting world as a 1984 Olympian, three-time World Cup medalist and five-time Chinese National champion. Founders of the newly created United Sport and Athlete, Inc., hope Ma's name is soon known in the Cedar Valley for his talent instructing youth.

"He is absolutely wonderful with kids. They just love him," said Robin Lund, board chairman of United Sport and Athlete, Inc., and a University of Northern Iowa professor.

United Sport and Athlete, Inc., is expected to open next month in the former Evans Furniture building at 4045 Hammond Ave., near Lone Star Steakhouse. The training facility will be open to kids and adults of all ages, though Ma will focus most of his time with the youth and collegiate teams. The 21,000-square-foot center features new, state-of-the-art equipment that is specialized for youths and adults. It will be open to the general public for gym memberships.

Eventually Lund said they will also add fitness classes, like cardio kickboxing.

"This is going to be for everyone and everyone will feel a part of it," said Jed Smith, president of United Sport and Athlete, Inc. and head strength and conditioning coach at UNI.

The facility got its first financial boost last year with a $50,000 grant from the R.J. McElroy Trust. Since then board members have worked to secure donations from area supporters. When the gym opens membership and training fees will become its main source of revenue.

However, as a nonprofit, all of the revenue will go back to the facility's main goal. The training center is still seeking its nonprofit status and is currently using the University of Northern Iowa and Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa to hold its grants and donations.

"Our overriding mission is to generate Olympic athletes," Lund said. "I believe there is a kid in the Cedar Valley right now who will compete in the Olympics someday."

Lund said they have also talked with national caliber athletes who are considering a move to the Cedar Valley to train under Ma.

However, coaching sessions will also be available for those not looking to compete in weightlifting, but who would rather improve their strength and conditioning for other sports.

"This is a wonderful sport … it will benefit anyone who competes in any American sport supplement training

Eventually, Lund said the training facility will seek both regional and national designations, including one that would make the center a Community Olympic Development Program site. Prior to coming to Waterloo Ma coached at the U.S. Olympic Education Center housed at Northern Michigan University. The Olympic program, created in 1996, addresses the needs of athletes from the beginning stages of development to the elite level.

The center will also serve as a laboratory for UNI students in both undergraduate and graduate programs physical education and strength and conditioning. Lund is also trying to create a master's program in strength training at the university. Those students will serve as on-site coaches for the weight room and also back up Ma with his athletes.

"Every repetition these kids do will be observed because technique is so important," Lund said.

Scott Edson and Blake Palmer, both graduate students in the university's exercise science program, will train under and coach for Ma. They said the addition of Smith and Ma were two of the main reasons they stayed at UNI to do their graduate work.

"When they came along, this is where I wanted to be," Edson said. "You can't go anywhere else in the country and find something like this."

Ma has every confidence that athletes trained in Waterloo can quickly catch up with other elite American weightlifters. Because the sport has not taken on here as it has in other countries, he said the bar is set much lower to join a national team. He hopes his work will soon change that.

"In a few years, we'll be No. 1 in the country," he said.

Lund hopes to announce additional youth programs associated with the training center later this year.

Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1570 or emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.

{M3For more information about the facility or to sign up for classes or a membership call (319) 234-1935.

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