USA Weightlifting Paris Olympic Corner

The team features two of the best young weightlifters on the planet in Hampton Morris (Marietta, Ga.) and Olivia Reeves (Chattanooga, Tenn.). Despite being just 20 and 21 years old, respectively, both were ranked No. 2 in their respective weight classes following Olympic qualifying, with Reeves having since bumped up to No. 1 with a withdrawl from China. Morris and Reeves are expected to challenge for the podium this summer after lighting up the competition through two years of qualifying. Joining them are Tokyo 2020 Olympians Jourdan Delacruz (Atlanta, Ga.) and Wes Kitts (Knoxville, Tenn.) who rank fourth and 14th, and the team is rounded out by Mary Theisen-Lappen (Bloomington, Ind.) who ranks fifth and is the reigning IWF World silver medalist.

Morris and Reeves have a combined seven age-group world medals and had the competitions of their careers in April 2024 at the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand. There, Morris broke the junior and senior clean and jerk world records  when he lifted 176 kg, and Reeves swept the 71 kg podium and set a trio of American records when she lifted 118 kg in the snatch and 150 kg in the clean & jerk for a 268 kg total. The performance put her over powerhouses China and North Korea and marked the sixth consecutive competition where she finished on the podium. Neither have shown any signs of slowing and have been steadily ramping up their training heading into Paris.

Delacruz and Kitts are looking to improve on their performances from the Tokyo 2020 Games where Kitts finished eighth at 109 kg and Delacruz didn’t total after missing all of her clean & jerk attempts. Kitts has shared that this time around he hopes to once again perform to the best of his ability and is looking forward to having his children in the crowd supporting him. Delacruz has said repeatedly that Paris isn’t a redemption arc. The 2020 Games were part of her journey and this is a new chapter entirely - she’s only looking forward, embracing the experience, and excited to have her supporters in-country with her. Theisen-Lappen continues to be a trailblazer in the sport. The nine-time Division II track and field All-American only started competing in 2018, but she’s already catapulted to the top of the field, winning five of eight international competitions and a pair of Pan American Championship gold medals since starting her career. 

The United States has medaled in consecutive Olympic Games thanks to Kate Vibert (Nye) in 2020 and Sarah Robles in both 2020 and 2016. A male U.S. lifter hasn’t brought home a medal since Guy Carlton (110 kg , bronze) and Mario Martinez(super heavyweight, silver) at the Los Angeles 1984 Games. The country's last gold medal came in 2000 Tara Nott-Cunningham. The last man to win a gold medal was Chuck Vinci in 1960.

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