Women weightlifters have been added to the program in 2000, essentially by taking the place of excess men. There will be the same number of weightlifters in Sydney as there was in Atlanta -- 250 -- but about 70 will be women.'

The addition of women comes just in time for the United States. It will help divert attention from a men's team that has not won a medal in any weight class or event since 1984.

America's best hope in 2000 could rest in the muscles of a 17-year-old, 295-pound high school student from Savannah, Ga.

Cheryl Haworth began weightlifting five years ago after her father took her to a gym to help her get stronger for softball. Despite her relative inexperience and youth, Haworth is already the strongest woman in the United States.

She has a good shot at a medal in 2000, although the final result will not be terribly important. Haworth will have plenty of chances in the future for Olympic glory and her greatest achievement this year could be lifting the veil of apathy that has engulfed weightlifting in the United States.

WORLD VIEW

His knees are aching and he is 12 years past his first retirement, but Naim Suleymanoglu will be back again trying to win an unprecedented fourth straight Olympic gold medal.

The Pocket Hercules, so named for his 4-11, 137-pound physique, already has gotten a huge break before the start of competition. Greece's Valeris Leonidis, who nearly beat Suleymanoglu in 1996, has moved up a weight class.

Even so, it does not guarantee a repeat performance. Suleymanoglu retired for a second time after '96 and just returned to competition last year. At 33, he is past his prime and recently placed third in the European Championships. Turkish Weightlifting Federation chief Mevhibe Pekmezci said it would be a mistake to doubt Hercules.

"Naim is still the old Naim," Pekmezci said. "He'll make it."

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