I am inspired to be a fan of women's weightlifting

I was reading this article about someone on Twitter insulting an 18-year old British Olympic weightlifter named Zoe Smith. The article calls “infidel1978” (yea, I know, kind of says it all right there huh?) a Twitter bully. I’m not sure I’d call this situation bullying, but it is rude and insulting.


First of all, let’s take a look see at Zoe.

Here is what the twerp said –

"I wouldn't even look at you. I'd think you was a bloke and so would 9 out of 10 lads.”

My very first thought is that this “person” is awfully lucky that the Internet is “anonymous” because I’m thinking Zoe could handle herself in an altercation.

ANYWAY, I love Zoe’s response –

"Your futile attempts at insulting us have brought me many giggles! It makes me laugh that you think we'd give a toss what a closed-minded, clearly weak fool like yourself who can't handle a bit of muscle thinks anyway!"

LOVE it.

Proving that his screen name is not the only thing that’s dumb, he responded with –

"In other words your insecurities are kicking in lol. Now piss off back to the kitchen and make your boyfriend a sandwich he's hungry."

Would someone please explain to me why guys follow up appearance insults with kitchen insults? I don’t get that at all.

"Meh, not particularly. I just find it funny to argue with idiots on the internet. What a very original comeback, you are a credit to men everywhere. I bet all those feminine women you speak of are queuing round the block for a chance with you!"

LOVE it.

The article says that Zoe changed her Twitter handle and that twerp’s account has been deleted. Of course, he is out there again under some other snappy handle, perhaps infidel1979?

Zoe wrote about it on her personal blog. I tried to find it to link to it, but I could not locate it. What she says is so great. It is the perfect response to small minded jerks,

"We don't lift weights in order to look hot, especially for the likes of men like that," Smith wrote. "What makes them think that we even want them to find us attractive? If you do, thanks very much, we're flattered. But if you don't, why do you really need to voice this opinion in the first place?

"Shall we stop weightlifting, amend our diet in order to completely get rid of our 'manly' muscles, and become housewives in the sheer hope that one day you will look more favorably upon us and we might actually have a shot with you?

"This may be shocking to you, but we actually would rather be attractive to people who aren't closed-minded and ignorant. Crazy, eh?! We, as any woman with an ounce of self-confidence would, prefer our men to be confident enough in themselves to not feel emasculated by the fact that we aren't weak and feeble."

I adore this young lady and I am going to be rooting for to win the gold.


The only thing that infidel1978 has a chance at winning is the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes.