Olivia Reeves was such a groundbreaker in the American weightlifting world that an Olympic silver medalist came out of her weight class.
Mary Theisen-Lappen began coaching the Olympic cycling events of discus and shot put at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She will be able to achieve that goal by lifting at the Paris Games as the current world silver medalist.
Jourdan Delacruz plans to return to the Olympics after missing out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
And Hampton Morris, the first American man to break the senior weightlifting world record since 1969, could become the youngest U.S. Olympic weightlifter since 2000.
In Paris, the U.S. weightlifting team had a chance to win more than one medal in a single competition for the first time since 1960.
The final qualifying event for the Olympics concluded in Thailand on Thursday. Reeves, Theissen-Lappen, Delacruz and Morris are the Americans who have qualified for the Olympics based on international rankings, but nominations are not expected until May.
Reeves, a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, transitioned from CrossFit like many lifters and won bronze in the 71kg weight class at last year's world championships.
The 71kg weight class was once the domain of American world champion and Olympic silver medalist Kate Vibert. But after Reeves topped the U.S. Olympic qualifying standings last year, Vibert increased his weight to 81kg over the winter at the last minute.
“When life throws at you Olivia Reeves, you have no choice but to change your game plan.” she reasoned then.
Bivert, whose silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics was the best result in a U.S. weightlifting competition in 21 years, still qualified for Paris by finishing within the top 10 in the international rankings in the 71kg and 81kg weight classes.
However, nations can send up to three lifters of each gender to the Olympics, and Reeves, Theisenlappen and Delacruz are among the top ranked in their respective weight classes.
“I've gained 9 kilograms in the past three months. I tried my best and did the impossible, but I was still 5 kilograms short of making the Olympic team.” Posted on Vibert's social media on Wednesday. “But no one can say that (coach) @SpencerGarnold and I didn't fight. I've been mentally preparing for this outcome, so I'm relieved. I'm excited to rest. , I'm actually looking forward to resting. I'm excited to get on board with my new career.
“I'm not completely done yet (substitutes have to stay fit) so I hope to be back. Maybe for the world championships? Maybe not? But In any case, I am honored to represent my country and share my love of weightlifting.”
Lappen gained 81kg to surpass two-time bronze medalist Sara Robles in the Olympic trials by 1kg (2.2 pounds).
Theissen-Lappen, 34 years old; I started competitive weightlifting in my late 20s. He won a silver medal in his debut at the World Championships last year. According to OlyMADMen, she is set to make her Olympic debut as the oldest American female lifter since her women's event was added at the 2000 Sydney Games.
Dela Cruz will be the only returning Olympian on the women's team. At the Tokyo Games, she was in bronze medal position after the snatch, but she was unable to successfully complete the 49kg clean-and-jerk lift.
The former competitive cheerleader returned to win a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships.
Morris, a 20-year-old from Marietta, Georgia, closed out the field last week, breaking the 61kg clean-and-jerk world record by lifting 176 kilograms (388 pounds).
He went from seventh in the world to second in his division at the Olympic qualifiers.
Up to two more American men could join Morris in Paris if countries decline spots in other weight classes, but for now Morris will be the first American male Olympic weightlifter since 1984. This is his only hope of winning a medal.
U.S. athletes qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics
The 2024 U.S. Olympic Team roster will be updated as they qualify.
