ATLANTA — The United States Weightlifting team has announced its roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Of those who made the team, one weightlifter competing in Europe this summer hails from right here in our backyard -- right in Marietta.
Hampton Morris is just 20 years old, but he ranks second in his respective weight class and is expected to challenge for podium in Paris. Morris shocked everybody at the Olympic qualifier in April when he lifted 176 kg in the clean & jerk, which set a new world record for the 61 kg weight class, according to a release from the U.S. Olympic Weightlifting team.
In Olympic history, the U.S. weightlifting team has collected 47 medals. However, a U.S. man has not earned an Olympic medal for the team since Guy Carolton (110 kg) won bronze and Mario Martinez (+110 kg) won silver at the Los Angeles Olympics all the way back in 1984.
“I couldn’t be more excited for these five athletes and what they represent about the development of elite weightlifting in the U.S.,” said USA Weightlifting CEO and president Matt Sicchio. “These five have fought tooth and nail through a grueling qualification process to make this team, and they’ve been fantastic representatives of themselves, their families, and our country throughout the process. I can’t wait to cheer them on in Paris.”
The entirety of Team USA is rounded out as such:
- Jourdan Delacruz (49 kg)
- Wes Kitts (102 kg)
- Hampton Morris (61 kg)
- Olivia Reeves (71 kg)
- Mary Theisen-Lappen (+81 kg)
The Summer Olympics will get started on July 26 and will end on Aug. 11. 11Alive will have full coverage from Paris.