Twenty American Athletes to Compete in the 2023 IWF Grand Prix I, an Olympic Qualifying Event, June 8-18 in Havana, Cuba

With 2024 Olympic qualifying underway, twenty American Olympic hopefuls will travel to Havana, Cuba for the 2023 IWF Grand Prix I, June 8-18 at the Pabexpo Exhibition Complex. Ten men and ten women from the United States will lift in the key international event, which will feature over 400 weightlifters from across the globe.

Team USA boasts the largest delegation in the Olympic qualifying event, which will include athletes from 72 nations. The IWF Grand Prix I is one of seven events feeding into the official Olympic Qualification Ranking and the competition follows four continental championships in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. Ten weight classes in each of the men’s and women’s divisions will be contested in Havana with American athletes competing in six women’s and five men’s weight categories.

Six Olympians will represent the United States in the event as they look to earn spots on their second straight Olympic team. Three-time Olympian and two-time Olympic bronze medalist Sarah Robles (87+ kg, League City, Texas), 2020 Olympic silver medalist Kate Vibert(76 kg; Atlanta, Ga.) and Tokyo teammates Jourdan Delacruz (55 kg; Atlanta, Ga.), Mattie Rogers (81 kg; Geneva, Fla.), CJ Cummings (89 kg; Beaufort, S.C.), and Wes Kitts (102 kg; Knoxville, Tenn.) will all reunite in Cuba.

2021 Pan American champion and 2022 World Championships bronze medalist Hayley Reichardt (49 kg; Leesport, Pa.), 2021 World Champion and three-time Pan American champion Meredith Alwine (71 kg; Altamonte Springs, Fla.), three-time Pan American Champion Hampton Morris (61 kg; Marietta, Ga.), and 2023 Pan American Champion Alejandro Medina (109+ kg, Miami, Fla.) will face the world’s best in Havana.

Two-time World Championships medalist Olivia Reeves (71 kg; Chattanooga, Tenn.), 2022 Pan American bronze medalist Taylor Wilkins (59 kg; Sebastian, Fla.), 2017 World Championships team member Brian Reisenauer (61 kg; Fargo, N.D.), and 2023 Pan American silver medalist Ryan Grimsland (73 kg; Lewisville, N.C.) will each return to international competition in the key Olympic qualifying event.

American record holders Danielle Gunnin (Monroe, Ga.) and Mary Theisen-Lappen (87+ kg, Eau Claire, Wis.), will round out the women’s roster. Caden Cahoy (73 kg; Jacksonville, Fla.), Nathan Damron (89 kg; San Jose, Calif.), Ryan Sester (102 kg; Gresham, Ore.), and Aaron Williams (109+ kg; Lawton, Okla.) will complete the United States men’s team.

Click here for the Grand Prix I Start Book.

IWF GRAND PRIX I UNITED STATES ROSTER

Women

49 kg: Hayley Reichardt, Leesport, Pa. - Competes on June 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET (Session A)
55 kg: Jourdan Delacruz, Atlanta, Ga. - Competes on June 10 - at 6 p.m. ET (Session A)

59 kg: Taylor Wilkins, Sebastian, Fla. - Competes on June 12 at 6 p.m. ET (Session A)

59 kg: Danielle Gunnin, Monroe, Ga.- Competes on June 12 at 6 p.m. ET  (Session A)

71 kg: Olivia Reeves, Chattanooga, Tenn. - Competes on June 14 at 6 p.m. ET (Session A)

71 kg: Meredith Alwine, Altamonte Springs, Fla. - Competes on June 14 at 6 p.m. ET (Session A)

76 kg: Kate Vibert, Atlanta, Ga. - Competes on June 15 at 6 p.m. ET (Session A)

81 kg: Mattie Rogers, Geneva, Fla. - Competes on June 16 at 3:30 p.m. ET (Session A)

87+ kg: Mary Theisen-Lappen, Eau Claire, Wis. - Competes on June 18 at 1 p.m. ET (Session A)

87+kg: Sarah Robles, League City, TX - Competes on June 18 at 1 p.m. ET (Session A)

Men

61 kg: Brian Reisenauer, Fargo, N.D. - Competes on June 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET (Session B)

61 kg: Hampton Morris, Marietta, Ga. - Competes at June 10 at 6 p.m. ET (Session A)

73 kg: Ryan Grimsland, Lewisville, N.C. - Competes on June 11 at 6 p.m. ET (Session A)

73 kg: Caden Cahoy, Jacksonville, Fla. - Competes on June 11 at 6 p.m. ET (Session A)

89 kg: Nathan Damron, San Jose, Calif. - Competes on June 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET (Session A)

89 kg: CJ Cummings, Beaufort, S.C. - Competes on June 14 at 11 a.m. ET (Session B)

102 kg: Wes Kitts, Knoxville, Tenn. - Competes on June 16 at 6 p.m. ET (Session A)

102kg: Ryan Sester, Gresham, Ore. - Competes on June 16 at 6 p.m. ET (Session A)

109+ kg: Aaron Williams, Lawton, Okla. - Competes on June 18 at 3:30 p.m. ET (Session A)

109+ kg: Alejandro Medina, Miami, Fla. - Competes on June 18 at 3:30 p.m. ET (Session A)

Team USA will depart for Havana on June 6 ahead of the June 8 start of the competition. Event live stream information is available at usaw.live.