Happy World Weightlifting Day!

Today is World Weightlifting Day, and as the mom of an Olympic weightlifter, this day means a little something extra to me.

When I think about weightlifting, I think about so much more than the weights being lifted on a platform. I think about the dedication, discipline, and determination it takes to become an athlete in this sport. I have watched Tim put in countless hours of hard work, push himself to reach his goals, celebrate victories, and face setbacks. I have also learned that sometimes the hardest part of being an athlete isn't the training itself, but having the patience and perseverance to work through the challenges that come with it.

Weightlifting has taught our family that success is about so much more than the number on the bar or the medals hanging on the wall. It's about the character built along the way, the lessons learned, and the person you become through the process.

I also think about the coaches who invest so much of themselves into their athletes. They do more than teach technique and help athletes get stronger. They encourage them, challenge them, believe in them, and help them see what is possible even when the road gets difficult.

Then there are the officials, volunteers, clubs, and everyone who works behind the scenes to make this sport possible. Their time and dedication help create opportunities for athletes to compete, grow, and pursue their dreams.

And, of course, there are the families. We may not be the ones standing on the platform, but we are right there alongside our athletes through the excitement of competition, the sacrifices required, the disappointments that sometimes come, and the moments that make all the hard work worthwhile. We celebrate their victories, hurt when they hurt, and pray for them through the challenges.

One of the things we, as a family, have come to appreciate most about weightlifting is the community. People from different backgrounds, different ages, and different walks of life come together because of a shared love for the sport. Athletes compete against one another, but there is also encouragement, friendship, and support that extends beyond the platform.

Watching Tim grow in this sport has allowed our family to be part of something bigger than just weightlifting. We have met wonderful people, watched athletes accomplish incredible things, and seen how much heart goes into pursuing a goal.

Today, we celebrate not only the athletes who step onto the platform, but also the coaches, families, volunteers, and everyone else who helps make this sport what it is.

Happy World Weightlifting Day to the entire weightlifting community! May you continue to lift one another up, both on and off the platform!

2026 Carolinas Elite Team Recognition

2026 Carolinas Elite Team Recognition 

Tim has made the Carolina Elite Team for the second year in a row! His first time earning this recognition was as a Youth competitor, and this year he has earned his spot as a Junior competitor. It is so exciting to see him continue to grow and progress in his weightlifting journey.

The Carolina Elite program recognizes the highest-performing Olympic weightlifters across North and South Carolina, honoring the top-ranked athletes in the Youth, Junior, Senior, and Masters divisions. Being selected for this team is a wonderful accomplishment and a reflection of the hard work these athletes put into their sport.

Tim and his teammates have put in some serious work to earn their spots among the Carolinas' best. Behind every lift are hours of training, discipline, dedication, and a commitment to getting better. There is so much more to being an athlete than what we see on competition day. It takes determination to keep showing up, pushing through the hard days, and working toward goals that aren't always easy to reach.

As his mom, it is so incredibly awesome to see Tim's hard work, dedication, and performances recognized at this level. I know how much effort he puts into his training, and seeing him earn this recognition for a second consecutive year makes me so proud of him.

I am also proud of all the athletes who have earned a place on this team. They have worked hard for this recognition, and it is wonderful to see their efforts celebrated.

Congratulations to Tim and all of the 2026 Carolina Elite Team members! Keep working hard, keep chasing those goals, and never stop believing in what you can accomplish. I can't wait to see what the future holds for each of you!

Carolina WSO Championships 2026

Tim wanted to go support his team as they lifted today, even though he wasn't able to compete himself this year.

What a day it was! We had so much fun watching the team lift. It is always so impressive to watch these athletes lift those heavy weights over their heads. One of the competitors, Eva Young, on the ALWC team made lifts that were Carolina Records across the board. We were so proud of her.

It was so thoughtful of them to give Tim an event t-shirt even though he couldn't compete this year. They also presented him with an award recognizing him as an Elite Carolinas Athlete! We didn't realize he would be receiving this award, and since we had somewhere else we needed to be, his coach graciously accepted it on his behalf.

But as wonderful as it was to watch the team compete and see Tim recognized for his accomplishments, one of the things that blessed my heart the most was watching my son encourage his teammates.

As a mom, it blesses my heart to see the man Tim is becoming. Being there to support his team, even when he couldn't be out there lifting alongside them, speaks volumes about his character and commitment. His love for the sport is about more than just lifting weights and winning competitions. It's also about showing up, encouraging others, and being part of something bigger than himself.

This year may not have gone as Tim had hoped, with his elbow injury keeping him off the platform, but that doesn't take away from the athlete he is or the accomplishments he has already achieved. Sometimes, the moments when we can't do what we love give us the opportunity to grow in ways we might not have expected.

His dad and I couldn't be prouder of him. We are proud of his accomplishments, but even more than that, we are proud of his heart, his dedication, and the man he is becoming.

The weights he lifts may show his strength, but the way he shows up for others shows his character. And that is something his dad and I will always be proud of. ❤️

Record Holder

(These numbers are in kg so you have to convert them to #'s)

Record Holder

Tim is officially a record holder!

Tim now holds the record in the Men’s Junior 70kg Division for the Carolina WSO (Weightlifting State Organization), which includes lifters from both North Carolina and South Carolina.

This is something I’m pretty proud of because it’s not just a record for a particular competition or gym. The Carolina WSO records include lifters across North Carolina and South Carolina, so his name is now part of the record books for his state organization.

He actually beat the requirements for the States record by a long shot when he competed at Junior Nationals this past summer.

There is a little bit of a story behind how his results ended up in the 70kg category.

When Tim competed at Junior Nationals, he was competing in the 71kg Junior division, which was the weight class at the time. Since then, USA Weightlifting has changed the weight classes, and the 71kg division no longer exists. When Tim weighed in at Nationals, he was actually under 70kg, so his results qualified to be placed in the new 70kg Junior division.

And now his name is at the top of that record.

How cool is that?

As his mom, I am incredibly proud of everything Tim has accomplished this year. He won Junior Nationals in his division, set personal records, and now has his name in the Carolina WSO record books.

But here's the part that means just as much to me...

Tim is currently out with an elbow injury.

This is the first time since he started his Olympic weightlifting journey that he has had to sit out of States. And I know that's not easy for him.

He misses lifting.

He misses training.

He misses making gains and working toward his next goal.

When you're used to walking into the gym, putting in the work, seeing your numbers go up and constantly pushing yourself to get better, being told you have to stop can be incredibly frustrating.

But even in the middle of that disappointment, Tim is keeping a positive attitude and making the best of a tough situation.

That makes me proud too.

Because being an athlete isn't just about what you can do when everything is going right. Sometimes it's about how you handle the seasons when things aren't going the way you planned.

And this is one of those seasons for Tim.

He won't be competing at States this year, but he will still be there.

He'll be there supporting his teammates, cheering them on and helping his coach wherever he can.

That's the kind of thing I love seeing in him.

He's learning that being part of a team isn't dependent on whether you're the one standing on the platform. Sometimes your role is to compete. Sometimes it's to encourage. Sometimes it's to help. And sometimes it's simply to stand beside the people you've trained with and support them.

And while I know he'd much rather be lifting, I'm proud of the way he's handling this setback.

What a year this has already been for him.

He became a Junior Nationals champion.

He hit some huge personal records.

And now he's officially a Carolina WSO record holder.

That's a pretty incredible list of accomplishments for one year.

But as I've said before, the medals, the records, the numbers and the titles are just part of the story.

What matters most to me is the young man behind all of it.

I'm proud of the lifter Tim has become, but I'm even more proud of the person he's becoming.

This injury may have temporarily taken him off the platform, but it hasn't taken away his accomplishments, his work ethic, his determination or his place on his team.

The platform will still be there when he's ready to return.

For now, we're taking this one step at a time, trusting God through the process and making the best of where he is right now.