Waves from Cali: Pan American Championships 2025
Bold Moves & Breaking Records
Cali, Colombia was on fire during the 2025 Pan American Championships. With the IWF introducing new weight classes just weeks earlier, this was the perfect storm for record-setting lifts—and the athletes did not disappoint.
Olivia Reeves (USA, 69 kg) dominated with a flawless 119 kg snatch and 149 kg clean & jerk, smashing all three world standards. Her 268 kg total set the bar high—9 kg over the previous mark.
Hampton Morris (USA, 65 kg) followed suit, hitting a 181 kg clean & jerk and 318 kg total. Both were good enough to set new senior world records.
But it wasn’t all red, white, and blue. Sebastián Olivares (COL, 71 kg) electrified the home crowd, putting up a 191 kg clean & jerk and 337 kg total—both exceeding the world standard. At just 20, he’s becoming a serious contender for global gold.
America Dominates, Latin America Rises
Team USA walked away with six golds and over 30 medals, medaling every single day. It was an all-around display of depth and preparation, with big lifts from veterans and emerging names alike.
Lifters like Mattie Rogers, Miranda Ulrey, Kolbi Ferguson, and Aaron Williams added serious numbers to the team tally. They weren’t just showing up—they were showing off what the USA could really do.
But the Americas are wide and strong. Colombia had its best showing yet with three titles and 11 total medals. And Venezuela’s Julio Mayora delivered a thunderous 199 kg clean & jerk at 79 kg.
The Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Cuba also made statements. From Dahiana Ortiz’s 190 kg total in the 48s to Yudelina Mejia’s dominance at 86 kg, the entire region is lifting harder and smarter than ever.
What This Means Heading Into Worlds
Cali wasn’t just a championship—it was a warning shot. With brand-new weight classes and fresh records waiting to be claimed, Pan Am lifters showed up and made statements. Now, all eyes shift to the 2025 IWF World Championships in Forde, Norway, where the rest of the world will respond. The battles there won’t just decide medals—they’ll shape the landscape for years to come.
At the center of it all is Olivia Reeves (USA, 69 kg). After blowing past world standards in Cali (119/149/268), she heads into Norway with the highest total ever posted in the category. But the competition will stiffen—expect a clash with China’s top lifters (likely Liao Guifang or Luo Shifang), as well as a rising challenge from Colombia’s Yeinny Geles. This has all the makings of a three-way war at the top.
Hampton Morris (USA, 65 kg) will face similar heat. After locking in a clean & jerk world record (181 kg) and total (318 kg), he’s got the momentum. But with top-tier lifters from China, Kazakhstan, and North Korea in the mix, nothing is guaranteed. It’s a weight class built on speed and precision—one missed attempt could cost everything.
And then there’s Jeison Lopez (COL, 88 kg)—Cali’s quiet storm. Lopez totaled 364 kg and showed he has both the composure and power to be a serious podium threat. But Norway will bring out the big names: Italy’s Antonino Pizzolato, who’s known for massive clean & jerks, and Bulgaria’s Bozhidar Andreev, a dangerous all-rounder. If Lopez wants to stand tall on the world stage, he’ll need to edge out these European titans—and maybe push for the 370+ range.
Rounding things out, lifters like Mattie Rogers (77 kg) and Julio Mayora (79 kg) are no strangers to the big stage. Mayora’s 199 kg clean & jerk in Cali proved he’s still one of the most explosive athletes on the circuit. But can he hit that—or more—under world-level pressure?
What we saw in Cali at the Pan American Championships was the spark. Norway will be the fire. New classes, young stars, and wide-open records make this one of the most unpredictable—and exciting—World Championships in years. And from what we saw in July, the Pan American region isn’t just holding its own anymore. It’s ready to lead.