On the morning of Aug. 7, 2024, American weightlifter Hampton Morris set the tone for Team USA’s weightlifting efforts. Morris, 20, won a bronze medal during the Men’s 61-kilogram event at the 2024 Olympics.
Morris’ achievement builds momentum for the remaining four American weightlifters on Team USA, who compete from Aug. 7-11 and marks a high note for the States at the Olympic Games.
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Hampton Morris at the 2024 Olympics
Morris was expected to perform well in Paris, an expectation he lived up to with room to spare. Earlier this year, Morris made history at the last-chance qualifying event for the Olympics, the 2024 IWF World Cup. His 176-kilogram clean & jerk world record marked the first Senior world record in men’s weightlifting in over 50 years.
With his Paris performance behind him, it’s safe to call Morris the most impactful American male weightlifter from the 2024 Olympics qualification cycle. His bronze from the Summer Games is the first Olympic weightlifting medal won by an American male in 40 years.
- In 1984, Guy Carlton and Mario Martinez won bronze and silver, respectively, in Los Angeles, where the Games will again be held in 2028.
Here’s a breakdown of Morris’ performance in Paris:
Hampton Morris | Men’s 61-Kilogram
- Snatch: 126
- Clean & Jerk: 172
- Total: 298
Before the commencement of the summer Games in Paris, Morris was already positioned as the number-two 61-kilogram weightlifter in the world behind Chinese athlete Li Fabin, who won the gold in this event. Thailand’s athlete Silachai Theerapong rounded out the podium by winning the silver.
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Featured Image: @teamusa / Instagram
