#1 Nationally...

Tim is #1 in USAW.  It's the first time ever that he's been Nationally ranked #1.  This is huge for Tim and is so exciting for him as a last year Youth competitor.  His last year as a Youth is starting off on the right foot with his first Gold.  Then PR'ing in Snatch + Clean & Jerk + Total.  

He finished 8th overall at the Meet this weekend amongst all the Male competitors.  

Now he's getting ready for The Arnold (Virus Weightlifting Series 1)!  He is so excited for this Meet.  It will be his first time getting to compete at it and he's looking forward to checking out all the other events at The Arnold as well.

ALWC Winter Classic Meet 2025 is in the books...

Yesterday Tim competed in the ALWC Winter Classic and brought home Gold.  We are so proud of our boy.  He's been advancing so much in this sport and we love watching him do what he loves.  In spite of some unexpected turns in the road our son's switch to this sport has proven to be the best move ever.  Keep getting after it Tim!

These first pictures are of him getting ready and warmed up for the Meet:

These next pictures are from his competition:

This is from his 80kg Snatch:

(I'm still learning how to get the shots.  I'll get better with time.)

These are from his 84kg Snatch:

These are from his 106kg Clean & Jerk:

(I somehow miss getting his 100kg Clean & Jerk that happened before this lift.)

Here are the links of the videos of his best lifts of the day:

84kg Snatch:  https://youtube.com/shorts/xkF0etSpsOQ?si=BwVDyPLFOTlDduW8

106kg Clean & Jerk:   https://youtube.com/shorts/M5y8-w-GLHM?si=cOXTfuIxrk5VSwup

Tim's Lift Card from his coach:

Tim after winning his Gold Medal:

Here's the podium moment with the silver medalist:

(The bronze medalist had to cut out early from the event.)

All in all it was a great day with great results.  We had so much fun being with our son and seeing him make even more progress in this sport that he loves so much.  He just keeps getting Meet PR's and that just shows how driven he actually is.  We love this kid of ours so very much and we couldn't be more proud of all that he is accomplishing in the short time that he's been a part of this sport.

Tim's Comp Schedule This Year...

I added Pan-American to the list.  He only gets to do that provided he gets the qualifying totals at Nationals this year.  We have our fingers crossed🤞and are praying for God to strengthen him to accomplish what he has in his heart to accomplish this year as a last year youth weightlifter.  

There could be one or two more added in that would be local Meets if his coach tells us the team is going to do them.  We just have to wait and see.  

USA Weightlifting's Plan...

I wanted to share with you a post that USA Weightlifting made yesterday...

2025-2028 STRATEGIC PLAN

MISSION STATEMENT

Grow and develop weightlifting to support lifelong participation and achieve Olympic podium success.

VISION STATEMENT

A stronger and healthier world where everyone is inspired to lift a barbell.

ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES

● Service: We support our community and pursue shared goals.

● Teamwork: We collaborate to achieve more.

● Integrity: We are fair and operate with unquestioned ethics.

● Belonging: We lead a sport community where everyone is welcome.

● Excellence: We hold ourselves to high standards and continuously improve.

PREAMBLE

As we look toward the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, our dedication to excellence is stronger than ever. This strategic plan is designed to propel us forward and provide the structure needed to pursue clear priorities over the next four years. 

By focusing on these priorities, we will not only address the urgent needs of today but also work towards our mission to grow and develop weightlifting to support lifelong participation and achieve Olympic podium success.

The 2025-2028 USA Weightlifting Strategic Plan was developed through input from organizational stakeholder groups and reflects our collective priorities over the next few years. This plan is intentionally focused so that we can maximize our impact in key areas:

● High Performance Excellence. Develop and invest in our athletes to support podium success at the highest levels of senior international competition, including LA2028 and future Olympic Games.

● Participation and Sport Development. Implement programs to grow participation, develop our sport, and elevate the experience for all who participate in weightlifting.

● Revenue Generation and Diversification. Increase the reach and recognition of USA Weightlifting and our sport, generating revenue growth and building financial strength and stability to support high performance and sport development programs.

● Organizational Effectiveness. Build and sustain a high performing team that is committed to our mission, achieving excellence, and bringing to life a positive organizational culture.

As the leader in our sport, we are committed to these priorities and fueled by the opportunity to make a lasting impact for the members of our community.

2025-2028 Strategic Plan

STRATEGIC PLAN

1. High Performance Excellence. Develop and invest in our athletes to support podium success at the highest levels of senior international competition, including LA2028 and future Olympic Games.

2. a) Invest. Create and implement an intentional athlete support model that invests in athletes with the demonstrated potential to compete with the best in the world for a podium at senior international competitions, especially the Olympic Games.

b) Define Pathways. Specify and clearly communicate how athletes progress and access resources and development opportunities in our sport.

c) Deepen the Pipeline. Source talent through targeted scouting, outreach and partnership, strong grassroots programs, development of existing high performance athletes, and recruitment of crossover athletes from other sports.

d) Support Career Transitions. Assist high performance athletes in their post-weightlifting career transition, with an emphasis on partnerships (e.g., U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee) that provide educational and career resources.

e) Success Targets:

i) Match or exceed the medal total from each of the Tokyo and Paris Games at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

ii) Average five medals won at IWF Senior World Championships during this four-year period.

iii) Team USA produces an average (over this four-year period) medal per athlete rate of at least 0.75 at the IWF youth and junior world championships, and at least 0.33 at the IWF Senior World Championships.

iv) By 2028, each level of USA Weightlifting’s National Team Program is filled to the program’s capacity by qualified and eligible athletes.

v) In partnership with the USA Weightlifting Athletes’ Advisory Committee and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, establish a “resource center” designed to specifically support high performance athletes in their post-weightlifting career transition. Participation and Sport Development. Implement programs to grow participation, develop our sport, and elevate the experience for all who participate in weightlifting.

a) Support Coaching Excellence. Continue to professionalize coaching education at all levels and expand education resources for coaching skills programs to deliver consistent, quality coaching from the grassroots up.

b) Encourage Lifelong Involvement. Continuously refine member benefits to drive meaningful value and promote participation for life.

2 | Page3. 2025-2028 Strategic Plan

c) Support Club Excellence. Develop resources and recognition programs to build capabilities for more clubs to achieve business success, grow the weightlifting community, and produce consistently positive experiences for our (club and USAW) members.

d) Success Targets:

i) Average 3,000 coaches trained annually over the four-year period.

ii) Attain gender distribution of USAW coach members that is at least 40% female (up from 35% female as of January 1, 2025) and 1% annual growth in National Level Coaches who are female (15% as of January 1, 2025).

iii) iv) v) Attain an annual Net Promoter Score of 50 or greater from members.

3-5% annual growth of individual and club memberships. 85% annual membership renewal rate. Revenue Generation and Diversification. Increase the reach and recognition of USA Weightlifting and our sport, generating revenue growth and building financial strength.

a) Tell Our Stories: Share compelling weightlifting stories through newly curated content across diverse media channels to increase visibility, build interest with new audiences, and ultimately attract new revenue investment from sponsors, partners, advertisers, and viewers.

b) Build Commercial Partnerships. Retain existing commercial partners and attract new ones by creating more sellable and valuable assets, with an emphasis on digital media assets.

c) Increase Philanthropic Support. Partner with USA Weightlifting Foundation to create a compelling case for giving, activated through successful campaigns, that grows philanthropic support at all donor levels.

4. d) Grow Coaching Education Markets. Expand USAW’s industry-leading coaching education products into new markets, and with new products, to grow the Olympic weightlifting coaching community and increase revenue.

e) Success Target

i) Annual revenue of $10 million (up from approximately $7 million in 2024) reached by the end of 2028 with no more than 33% coming from a single source. Organizational Effectiveness. Build and sustain a high performing team that is committed to our mission, achieving excellence, and bringing to life a positive organizational culture.

a) Build Operational Capacity. Balance capacity with growth targets and invest in people and technology to right-size the organization to deliver on the priorities articulated in this plan.

b) Improve Data and Business Intelligence Capabilities. Use data analytics across the business to power decisions, monitor progress against organizational goals, and inform periodic review of our strategic direction.

3 | Page2025-2028 Strategic Plan

c) Improve Financial Stability. Establish and manage an operational reserve to safeguard against business disruptions and support long-term sustainability.

d) Success Targets:

i) ii) iii) Achieve an employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) of 40 or higher annually. 6 months of operating expenses established as reserves by 2028. Regularly report to the Board of Directors on annual objectives and key results (OKRs).

Tim's Last Christmas Gift Finally Arrived....

Tim's Maw Maw bought him a gift for Christmas.  She ordered it before Christmas and it was supposed to get there in a couple of weeks but it took until now to arrive.  He loves it though and said it was worth the wait.  It's a Twenty One Pilots hoodie.  They are Tim's favorite band.  He's very eclectic when it comes to music.  We've most recently been listening to Chopin.  Chopin is a far cry from Twenty One Pilots.  It's why I say he's very eclectic.  He loves all kinds of genres of music.  He's definitely his mothers son because I'm the exact same way.  Got this pic of him wearing it on a commercial project yesterday.   

Virus Weightlifting Series 1 Meet Preliminary Schedule...

 

The highlighted area in the list is where it looks like Tim will be lifting at this Meet.  The final schedule will come out 2/17.  So far it looks like he will be lifting day 1 of this Meet then he will be able to go see some of the Arnold events and enjoy himself on Friday before we take the drive over to his Aunts house for a short visit with them before heading home on that Sunday.  We are so excited for our boy getting to do this Meet this year because he was a little shy of getting to attend it last year + he was so new to the sport that his numbers weren't where they needed to be for this event anyhow.  He's doing so good now though and we are so incredibly happy for him and proud of him.  When I think of how proud we are of him I think about our Father in heaven and how proud He must be when His children make good decisions and do good positive things with their lives.  The smile that is on our faces for our kids doesn't even compare to our Papa God's face when it comes to His children.  Knowing how I feel for Tim and how He feels towards me is a great feeling.  I love you so much God!  Thank you for Your many blessings in my life!  

ALWC Winter Classic Schedule....

Here is the schedule for Saturday.  Tim is lifting with the Seniors and Masters.  He's the only youth in his group lifting the numbers that he will be lifting.  

Being A Mom...

 

Tim will be 18 in May of 2026.  It's hard to believe that at that time he will be a legal adult in the eyes of the law.  He will always be my boy though.  I have missed the mark in the mom department more times than I could ever keep track of.  I'm sure there are things that I don't remember as I've raised Tim that he remembers.  I wouldn't get a glowing mom award but I've been present, I've done the absolute best I could, and I've tried to be a good mom for our son.  No parent is perfect.  I've apologized when I've needed to.  I've held him tight when he's been scared and not feeling well.  I've played with him countless times with whatever toys he wanted to play with.  I've sat on our deck and watched him jump on his trampoline.  I've watched him ride his dirt bike.  I've taken countless pictures of him throughout his entire childhood.  There's not a moment that I've not cherished with him.  He is growing into an amazing young man.  He has a heart of gold.  I look forward to seeing how God continues to bless him into his adulthood, marriage, and children of his own.  I know that he will be a good father and husband because his dad and I have lead by example his whole life.  He's been so incredibly loved.  We've given him wings to fly as high and far as he wants to go in this life.  All that he has to accomplish remains to be seen but one thing is for sure is that he sets goals and meets those goals.  He's a go getter and that will never change.  I only hope and pray that all the good I've done as a mom far outweighs all the times I've missed the mark as a mom and that the good is what stays with our son as he becomes his own man.  

To My Son, 

and remember this:

Life meets nobody half way.  If you want something you have to go for it and give it your all every single time!  I love you to the moon and beyond!  Always have and always will!  Keep being the absolute best you that you can possible be!  And above everything, Always, Always, look to God first and foremost as you navigate life!!!  Always be thankful to God for his blessings in your life.  Nothing we have in this life is by chance.  It's His provision that has brought you to where you are and it's His provision that will keep you.  Trust God always and forever.  I love you!

Challenger Remembrance Day 1/28....

I still remember being in school watching on tv because a teacher was on that Space Shuttle. I remember as the entire school gasped when it exploded and then total silence. None of us could believe what had just happened. What happened was very sad and I’m glad we had a principal that addressed us over the intercom in such a way that inspired us to honor her memory as we went throughout the rest of our day. I will always remember.

Just an fyi, there was no pts, counseling or missed school days over it. Just saying.

Tim is so Ready for 2025 Comps!!!

Tim is so ready for his 1st Meet of the year!  He's been working hard and looking forward to advancing his Meet PR at this 1st in House Meet at Athletic Lab this Saturday.  It will count for USAW too.  His coach has been working with him non-stop getting him ready for this Meet and the Virus Weightlifting Series 1 Meet that happens at the end of February.  Tim is looking forward to a banner year as a last year Youth Weightlifter.  Tim is making progress like crazy in this sport!

A Year & A Half of Nothing But Progress..

Here's Tim's lastest Personal Best Snatch which he's hoping to make a Meet PR soon:

Tim did a 90kg Snatch Saturday.  That's so huge.  He's made such great strides since moving over to weightlifting.  We couldn't be more proud and happy for him.

On this elite athlete journey we've been on we've learned so much.  We learned what we were doing wrong and what we were doing right.  We learned what we needed to change and we made the needed changes.  That's huge for parents as well as athletes.  To know when to make changes and when to fight is major!!!

For so long we were of the mindset that Tim made a commitment to a certain sport and that he needed to stick to it no matter what.  It was what he had told us he wanted to do and so we were making him keep to his end of the bargain and continue to do the sport he had chosen.  What we didn't factor in was all the outside circumstances and situations that would tear down our son and make him into a shell of a person.  We saw our sons spirit dwindling away and totally crushed by people who were supposed to truly care about him but in the end didn't.  Tim's love of the sport he was doing just vanished away after the last issue that he had that brought about real change which brought him to the sport he's doing now.

Ya know, the last situation that caused him and us to walk away from TKD sparring was really a blessing in disguise.  What satan meant for harm and destruction God turned for Tim's good and our good as a family.  A year & a half later folks and our son + our family unit is so very different.  The happiness in our home/lives is like nothing we've ever known since Tim started down the elite athlete path when he was 7/8 years old.  It's like all these years later we have our family back.  We have such a happiness that's better than what we had before Tim started down the elite sport competing path.  

Being an elite athlete is not for the faint of heart.  It's hard, very hard!  It's the toughest thing a competitor will ever do.  It's all consuming.  It takes a strong family unit in order to do it.  When Olympians thank their parents it's because, we parents, put just as much into our kids sports/competitions as they do with our support of them to get them where they want to go.  

Tim still has olympic dreams.  He has the best coach that he's ever had!  Will his dreams ever come to fruition?  Only God knows that.  As long as Tim has the goal he will have our support though.  

Having our kids in a good place mentally when it comes to sports of any kind matters so very much.  We have a hugely different young man in our home now.  One that talks to us more than he ever has.  He is always sharing with us what he's learning and showing us as well.  He's including us more than he ever has all because of the support that he's receiving from us on a day in and day out basis.   Showing love and encouragement constantly are all we are about with our son.  Having him so excited and happy brings such warmth and happiness to our hearts.  His dad and I are loving how strong our family unit is now.  What a massive change this has been for us but it's been so worth it.  

So many folks can't believe after all the years in one sport that we just moved on but knowing when to move on is so huge.  There's no sense in wasting time and money in a sport that isn't going to yield the result that your kid ultimately wants so moving on was the right thing to do.  Life is so good, God is at the center of our home and we are blessed beyond measure!!!  Thank you Lord for being ever constant in our lives!