Olivia Reeves becomes first US lifter in 66 years to hold both world title and Olympic gold medal

Olivia Reeves has made history as the first American weightlifter in 66 years to hold both a world title and an Olympic gold medal. The 21-year-old achieved this remarkable feat at the 2024 World Weightlifting Championships in Bahrain, where she lifted a combined total of 267kg (589 pounds) on Wednesday.

Competing in the 71kg weight division, Reeves outperformed top contenders, including North Korea’s Jong Chun Hui and China’s Yang Qiuxia. Her victory marks the first time an American lifter has won both titles since Ike Berger in 1958. Reeves lifted 120kg (264.6 pounds) in the snatch and 147kg (324 pounds) in the clean and jerk, achieving a combined total of 267kg, which was 5kg heavier than the 262kg (577.6 pounds) that earned her the Olympic gold earlier this year in Paris.

Reeves’ Olympic victory in Paris 2024 made her the first U.S. weightlifter to win an Olympic gold since Tara Nott in 2000 and the youngest American Olympic weightlifting gold medalist since Ike Berger in 1956.

Reflecting on her World Championship win, Reeves shared her excitement: “You can’t top the Olympics, so this one is going in at number two on my all-time list of favorite competitions.” Her coach, Mike Gattone, praised her consistency, stating, “I’m so very, very proud of Olivia. She’s just unbelievably consistent.”

Reeves’ journey into weightlifting began in her childhood, when she started lifting in the fourth grade at the CrossFit gym owned by her mother. In addition to her sporting success, Reeves also graduated with a degree in sociology this week, highlighting her dedication both in and out of the gym.

Together with 20-year-old Hampton Morris, who made history as the first American man to win an Olympic medal in weightlifting since 1984 when he claimed bronze in Paris, Reeves is seen as a key figure in the potential resurgence of U.S. weightlifting ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Morris’ achievement also fuels optimism for the sport’s growth in the U.S.

Historically, the United States has been a strong contender in weightlifting, with 16 gold, 17 silver, and eight bronze Olympic medals, placing the country third in all-time Olympic weightlifting standings behind the Soviet Union and China, who are tied for first with 62 medals each. However, the nation has seen a decline in its medal haul since the 1968 Olympics, with only 10 medals coming from U.S. lifters since then. This period followed the golden age of American weightlifting, with legends like Ike Berger and Tommy Kono leading the charge.

Reeves’ achievements at the World Championships and the Olympics are seen as a turning point for American weightlifting, reigniting hopes for a strong U.S. presence in the sport at future competitions, particularly with the Games returning to Los Angeles in 2028. With athletes like Reeves and Morris leading the way, the future of U.S. weightlifting looks promising, and their accomplishments will likely inspire the next generation of American lifters.

Reeves’ combination of academic and athletic success, alongside her groundbreaking achievements, positions her as a trailblazer in her sport, and her continued dominance suggests that the U.S. may be on the brink of a new era in weightlifting. The potential for more American gold medals in the years ahead is very much alive, and Reeves has become a key figure in that hopeful future.

About The Author

Ama Oprah

See author's posts