USA Weightlifting Team’s Jaw-Dropping Lineup of 9 Powerhouse Athletes Set to Dominate 2023 Pan American Games

The 19th edition of the Pan American Games, the most decorated tournament in the continents of America will be taking place in Santiago, the capital of Chile. It is the first time that Chile will be hosting the tournament. 6000 athletes across 38 sports will be competing in the tournament with very high stakes, created and recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1948.

These games have united the countries across the American continents to unite and compete with each other. Through decades many record-breaking athletes like Micheal Jordan, Elaine Thompson, Yulimar Rojas, Hugo Sanchez, and Alyson Felix have competed in the games, set new records, and inspired many generations of athletes.

 The USA weightlifting team at the Pan American Games

USA Weightlifting has announced its roster for the 2023 Pan American Games, which will be taking place from 21 to 24 October at Gimnasio Chimkowe in the Peñalolén district of Santiago, Chile. Five women and four women will be competing in the games. These nine powerhouse athletes will be going full-iron against athletes from other countries.

2023 IWF World Championship medalists Olivia Reeves (81kgs) and Mary Theisen-Lappen (+81 kgs) have been included in the roster along with Taylor Wilkins (59 kgs) who recently set three American records at the 2020 Pan American Championship which were rescheduled for 2023.

A glance at the nine athletes

Olivia Reeves (81 kg) had the highest total at the Cali 2021 Junior Pan American games which got her the 81 kg qualification for Santiago’23. She also won a bronze at the 2023 IWF Championship. Taylor Wilkins (59kgs) finished 10th in the 2023 IWF Championship and is ninth in Olympic Qualifying ranking in her weight. Meredith Alwine (71kgs) was the 2021 IWF World Champion at 71kgs. Travis Cooper (73 kgs) is entering his first international competition at 73 kgs, he used to compete in 81 and 89 kgs. He won back-to-back bronze at the 2013 and 2014 Pan Am Championship.

Morgan McCullough (102kgs) won bronze in 2019 and silver in both 2021 and 2022 at the Junior Pan American Championships. Keiser Witte (+102 kgs) won bronze at the 2019 Pan American Championship and turned it into a gold medal at the 2021 Pan American Championship. Brandon Victorian and Shacasia Johnson have very limited experience. Johnson won silver at the 2019 IWF Grand Prix in Lima, Peru while Victorian clinched Bronze at the 2022 XL Torneo International “Manuel Suárez In Memoriam” meet.

Read more: “Majority of People Have Somewhat Counted Me Out”: With 30 Days Left, 295 Lbs Bodybuilding Beast Fghts Against Critiques to Win Mr. Olympia 2023

The USA Weightlifting roster is complete and these nine athletes are powerhouses of strength and will. While they compete through the tournament, they will all be sharing one mutual goal. To clinch as many medals as they can and to stand at the top of the podium, proudly with a medal around and the head held high.

Watch This Story: Chris Bumstead Seeks Help for His Painful Conditions 30 Days Away From Olympia