This U.S. Olympic Weightlifting Team could be the most successful for USA in 64 years. 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 are ranked No. 2 in their weight classes and are expected to challenge for the podium this summer after lighting up the competition circuit the past two years. Joining them are Tokyo 2020 Olympians Jourdan Delacruz (Atlanta, Ga.) and Wes Kitts (Knoxville, Tenn.) who rank fourth and 14th. 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 seven age-group world medals combined 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 Tokyo 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 behind 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 Mario Martinez at the Los Angeles 1984 Games. The country’s last gold medal across either gender came in 1960 from Charles Vinci.
Athletes to Watch
Hampton Morris - Male, 61 kg
Wes Kitts- Male, 102 kg
Jourdan Delacruz - Female, 49 kg
Olivia Reeves - Female, 71 kg
Mary Theisen-Lappen - Female, +81 kg
For inquiries: Will Edmonds - will.edmonds@usaweightlifting.org