Janice R. Andrews
At the Paris Olympics, Hampton Morris made weightlifting history by becoming the first American male medallist in forty years. With a total lift of 298 kilogrammes, he won bronze. When the 20-year-old phenom broke the long-standing medal drought for American men in the sport on Wednesday, it grabbed headlines. With 310 kg, Li Fabin of China won gold, and Theerapong Silachai of Thailand took home silver with 303 kg.
Morris has quickly risen to the top of the weightlifting world, establishing ten world records in the juvenile, junior, and senior divisions. Morris exercises mostly in his garage. Morris said, “It’s incredible that I can make that kind of impact in the sport.” “I simply can’t believe it.”
Mario Martinez (silver) and Guy Carlton (bronze) were the last American men’s weightlifting medallists from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Morris is already planning on experiencing more success at home when the Games come to Los Angeles in 2028. “My only hope now is to perform even better in Los Angeles in four years,” he stated.
With this triumph, American men’s weightlifting has made a tremendous return on the international scene.
