From Colorado Springs to Oslo: U.S. Weightlifting Nationals 2025

Colorado Springs, June 2025 – There’s an unmistakable energy rising through the bar racks of the USA Weightlifting Nationals. This year’s championships erupted with blistering records, bold lifts, and emerging talents whose names are already echoing far beyond the hall. True to the spirit of LUXIAOJUN’s coverage, which celebrates both elite performance and the human stories behind the lifts, this year’s Nationals highlighted not just winners, but the grit, strategy, and ambition that define U.S. weightlifting today

Record-Breaking Momentum

Take a step back and let the numbers speak for themselves.

In the men’s 94 kg class, Daniel Wiitanen redefined national standards with a snatch of 162 kg—a power statement that will no doubt send shivers through international lineups.

On the women’s side, Jenny Arthur lit up the +86 kg division with a snatch of 108 kg and a clean & jerk of 135 kg, culminating in a jaw-dropping 243 kg total. These weren’t just gold medals—these were new American benchmarks, set with grit and precision.

And then came Olivia Reeves, already a global name, who put on one of the most commanding shows of the weekend. She shattered expectations with a massive 124 kg snatch and an even more impressive 153 kg clean & jerk, finishing with a 277 kg total. Each number stamped new U.S. records, each lift a reminder that Reeves isn’t just leading the women’s field—she’s redefining it.

Elsewhere, stalwarts like Hampton Morris (71 kg), Ryan Grimsland (79 kg), Brandon Victorian (88 kg), Chrisanto D’Agostino (94 kg), Xavier Borde (110 kg), and Dimitri Albury (+110 kg) each lifted totals between 324–364 kg, underscoring the depth of U.S. weightlifting across multiple classes.

Young Guns, Big Ambitions

What really sparks excitement? The next-generation contenders.

• James Woodley (U23, 71 kg) delivered a near-perfect performance (5 out of 6), netting three golds and a 236 kg total. His 129 kg clean & jerk? A lift his coach called “one of the most courageous” in memory.
• Jade Morales, a rising Junior at 53 kg and fresh on the scene as a college freshman, performed flawlessly on her snatch attempts and rebounded from a wobble in her clean & jerk to finish strong—her 174 kg total signals big things ahead.

Plus, keep tabs on Jared Ambrosio, who pushed his clean & jerk to a personal best of 148 kg in U25, and Kira Barad (Junior, 86 kg), whose gutsy 90 kg jerk was equal parts grit and promise.

Oslo Countdown: Turning National Success into World Stage Impact

With only five weeks to go until the World Championships in Norway, these Nationals weren’t just a competition—they were a launchpad.

1. Timing Is Everything
   Those record-breaking lifts weren’t random—they’re signals that USA lifters are peaking exactly when it counts.
2. Mix of Experience and Youth
   A core of proven champions meets a wave of audacious new talent. Balancing reliability and unpredictability, this team could rewrite podium narratives.
3. Strategic Moves Ahead of LA 2028
   Some athletes are testing new weight classes and strategies that could shape Olympic cycles to come. What happens in Oslo could echo all the way to Paris.

Make no mistake: if these athletes carry their Colorado drive into Norway, the World Championships could be a defining moment for Team USA. Expect podium finishes, perhaps even world records—and above all, a statement that U.S. weightlifting is rising with undeniable force.

In a nutshell: The 2025 Nationals weren’t just competitions—they were a spark. From record-breaking veterans like Reeves, Arthur, and Wiitanen to bold newcomers hungry for the spotlight, Team USA is primed—and ready—to roar on the world stage.