Imagine, in one year, going from barely being able to lift the bar to lifting almost twice your own body weight above your head. Starting as a scrawny kid, you continually tear yourself down in order to, little by little, build yourself back up stronger and stronger than before. This grueling regiment was a reality for junior Misha Sweeney and Yangxing Ding. All photos courtesy of Elijah Zawatsky

“We literally started at nothing. Before this year we weren’t even noticed on the national level. But now each of us are ranked in the top ten nationally,” Ding said.

Ding and Sweeney compete in Olympic Style lifting, involving the highly technical clean and jerk and the explosive snatch. Because they compete on an international level, they must use Olympic style weights, measured in kilograms. For this reason, Sweeney has built a gym in his garage.

“We use the gym a minimum of five times a week. Mondays and Thursdays we lift at seven, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at three, and anytime we can over the weekends. On Fridays we max out at Cross-fit Blue Ash,” Sweeney said.

Olympic-style weightlifting benefits the lifter in numerous ways. Power, speed, and mobility all increase as a result of these highly technical lifts. Because of this, power lifters often excel at many different sports.

“Pound for pound, Olympic weightlifters have a greater level of speed-strength than any other class of athletes in all of sport. This fact was made very clear during a massive scientific expedition carried out on the athletes at the Mexico City Olympics in 1964. Sports scientists found that Olympic lifters were able to both vertical jump higher than any class of athletes (including the high jumpers), and run a 25 yard dash faster than any class of athletes (including the sprinters). Frederick C. Hatfield, Ph.D., F.I.S.S.A,” Ding said.

The lifts Ding and Sweeney do are highly technical, form centered lifts. Without proper form injury is almost guaranteed. Because of this, Ding and Sweeney spent extensive amounts of time focusing on low-weight, high-rep, form centered lifting.

“We spent so long focusing purely on form. Months on end were spent perfecting every last detail of our lifts. It was honestly more beneficial than any strength training,” Sweeney said.

Both lifters will compete at the national level on June 25 through 29, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They will compete in the 69 kilogram weight class, against other lifters from across the country.