Hampton Morris, 17, made a big splash Saturday, July 10 at the 2021 Junior Pan-American Weightlifting Championships in Manizales, Colombia. Competing in the 61-kilogram weight class, Morris clean & jerked 155 kilograms (341.7 pounds) — over two-and-a-half times his bodyweight — to set a Junior Pan-American record and Youth world record, handily winning gold on the day.
Morris missed his first snatch attempt of 112 kilograms (246.9 pounds) but was successful on his second attempt. He called for 115 kilograms (253.5 pounds) on the barbell for his third attempt but missed. He went a perfect three for three in the clean & jerk, hitting 145-kilogram (319.7-pound) and 151-kilogram (332.9-pound) lifts prior to his new Youth world record.
Hampton Morris — 2021 Junior Pan-American Weightlifting Championships
- Snatch — 112 kilograms (246.9 pounds)
- Clean & Jerk — 155 kilograms (341.7 pounds) — Junior Pan-American record, Youth world record
- Total — 267 kilograms (588.6 pounds)
Check out Morris’s Youth world record clean & jerk below, courtesy of the video posted to the Instagram page of his father and coach, Tripp Morris:
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With this lift, Morris — who currently holds a total of 15 American records — joins a rare company. According to USA Weightlifting (USAW) CEO Phil Andrews, only three other Team USA lifters have set Youth world records at international meets — Cheryl Haworth, Harrison Maurus, and Clarence “CJ” Cummings Jr. Maurus (81KG) and Cummings Jr. (73KG) are set to compete next month at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games as part of Team USA.
The 155-kilogram (341.7-pound) effort by Morris exceeds his current Senior American record clean & jerk by a single kilogram. He scored that lift a few short weeks ago at the 2021 USAW National Championships in Detroit, MI. Additionally, Morris recently won the Rogue Fitness “Bella Complex” challenge, where he scored 145.2 kilograms (320 pounds) competing in the Male Light division.
[Related: Rogers Claims Records — 2021 USA Weightlifting National Championships Results]
Team USA’s Future
Morris’ two gold medals in the clean & jerk and total represent another landmark for Team USA internationally. The current Senior world record clean & jerk of 174 kilograms is held by Eko Yuli Irawan of Indonesia. It is likely to be bested in at the Tokyo Olympic Games as Chinese weightlifter Li Fabin hit 180 kilograms (396.8 pounds) at a Team China test event. However, the successes of rising stars like Morris indicate that the United States can be a contender for the podium in the next Olympic cycle.
The 2021 Junior Pan-American Championships conclude on Thursday, July 15. The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will commence on Friday, July 23, and run through Sunday, August 8.
Featured Image: Will Breault / BarbellStories
