Hixson Weightlifter Olivia Reeves Enjoys Dominating Performance at U.S. Junior Nationals

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Hixson weightlifter Olivia Reeves is back home after a dominating performance at the U-S Junior Nationals two weeks ago.

The 19-year-old blew away the competition making her a legitimate contender for the Olympics in two years.

When Olivia Reeves arrived at Junior Nationals in Las Vegas, just her presence alone, carried a lot of weight.
Said her coach Steve Fauer:”All eyes were on her. She has been the one to beat for quite awhile.”
Said Reeves:”I felt pretty confident. It was Junior Nationals, so I wasn’t competing against any senior athletes. It was just kind of for fun. Juniors is 20-and-under. I think after my performance at Junior Worlds in May, I knew that I had a little bit more kilo’s that I left on the platform.”
And Reeves made sure she didn’t leave any weight or kilograms on the floor this time with a record setting performance.
Said Reeves:”Snatch first. I went 104. 108, which would be a competition PR, and then 110 because the American record is 113, so to jump to that would be quite a bit. And then next I did clean and jerk. I started. I went 130, 134, and 138 which broke a senior and junior American record.”
Yeah she snatched 242.5 pounds, with a clean and jerk of 304.2 pounds.
Say hello to the nation’s best.
Said Reeves:”So for juniors I’m the first junior for the women. For seniors I am ranked number one currently.”
Said Fauer:”So of all the women athletes that are in the United States right now, we are number one. That’s based on how much you lift compared to your body weight. That’s how they get that ranking. So pound-for-pound, we are best lifter in the United States right now.”
Despite being the best in the U.S., there’s still work ahead of qualifying for the 2024 Olympics.
Said Fauer:”They’re taking the top ten in the world to the Olympics. That’s all that we are allowed in the weight classes is ten athletes, and those ten athletes are amongst the world. It’s not amongst the United States, so she has got to be among the top ten in the world.”