Four Special Olympics athletes have defied the odds by qualifying for the Ohio Weightlifting Championships this weekend. “Seeing these athletes, being able to see them every week. They have every excuse not to be here, it really motivates me,” said head coach Zach Privette.Privette. He has been training Special Olympics athletes for four years and formed this team in February. The team is made up of four athletes who compete in the three main lifts of weightlifting: squat, deadlift and bench press. “My favorite part of lifting is the deadlift. And, you know, being able to pull the amount.” said 19-year-old Sean Allen. Allen has been weightlifting since February and is ready for his first state competition. “I’ve been able to deadlift 226 pounds. I’ve been able to bench 95,” he added. But for these athletes, weightlifting is about more than just physical strength. “There’s no barrier. If you have a physical disability, there are ways to work around it. Forget about mental disabilities. That’s no big deal. We work with everyone. Everyone finds a way to compete,” Privette said. , coaching these athletes has been the highlight of his career. “It’s a big part of my life. So to see them succeed and move forward and see how much fun they have is really cool to see,” he said. Privette hopes this state team can teach us all. something about pushing our limits. “You know, these kids have every reason not to be here. And yet they come every week,” he said. One of the athletes had a message for those who might be struggling: “I would tell them it’s okay.” You’ll get better over time if you fail the first time,” he said. The state weightlifting championships will be held this weekend (June 28-30) in Columbus.
Columbus, Ohio –
Four Special Olympics athletes defied the odds by qualifying for the Ohio Weightlifting Championships this weekend.
“Seeing these athletes, seeing them every week. They have every excuse not to be here, it really motivates me,” head coach Zach Privette said.
Privette has been training Special Olympics athletes for four years and formed this team in February. The team is made up of four athletes who compete in the three main lifts of weightlifting: squat, deadlift and bench press.
“My favorite part of lifting is the deadlift. And, you know, being able to pull the amount,” said 19-year-old Sean Allen.
Allen has been weightlifting since February and is ready for his first state competition.
“I’ve been able to deadlift 226 pounds. I’ve been able to bench 95,” he added.
But for these athletes, weightlifting is about more than just physical strength.
“There’s no barrier. If you have a physical disability, there are ways to work around it. Forget about mental disabilities. That’s not a big deal. We work with everyone. Everyone finds a way to compete,” Privette said.
For Privette, coaching these athletes has been the highlight of his career.
“It’s a big part of my life. So to see them succeed and move forward and see how much fun they have is really cool to see,” he said.
Privette hopes this state team can teach us all something about pushing our limits.
“You know, these kids have every reason not to be here. And yet they come every week,” he said.
One of the athletes had a message for those who may be struggling.
“I would tell them it’s okay. It will get better over time if it fails the first time,” he said.
The state powerlifting championships will be held this weekend (June 28-30) in Columbus.
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