USA Weightlifting‘s (USAW) 2022 National Championships Week is alight with action. On Jul. 2, 2022, weightlifter Mattie Rogers set three new Senior American Records in the snatch, clean & jerk, and Total.
Calling it a “heavy training day” on social media, Rogers rocked up to the Las Vegas Convention Center with one goal in mind — get in, grab some medals, and get out, a goal she accomplished by lifting 112 kilograms (246.9 pounds) in the snatch and 140 kilos, or 308.6 pounds, in the jerk.
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[Related: Weightlifter Olivia Reeves Sets New American Record Clean & Jerk at 2022 National Championships]
Rogers bested the former American snatch record held by Kate Vibert of 111 kilograms, set at the Tokyo Olympics, and also advanced the existing 138-kilogram clean & jerk record, lifted by Jenny Arthur in 2018. Rogers also bested Vibert’s 249-kilogram American Record Total from Tokyo.
Perhaps most impressively, Rogers needed only three attempts to do what takes most athletes six full tries. After making 112 kilograms on her second snatch (Rogers opened at 110 kilos), she declined her third attempt.
A similar story took place on the clean & jerk event. Rogers made her opening lift at 140 kilograms and then declined any subsequent attempts, knowing she had secured the American Record and gold medals across the board.
Here are the podium results from the Women’s 76-kilogram A Group:
2022 USAW Senior National Championships | Women’s 76KG Podium
- Mattie Rogers — 112/140/252, Gold
- Estelle Rohr — 93/122/215, Silver
- Christine Middleton — 92/118/210, Bronze
Note: The notation above refers to the athlete’s best snatch, clean & jerk, and Total (bolded), in kilograms.
Following the conclusion of her session, Rogers returned to the training hall. She capped off her day by hitting a new three-rep personal best in the back squat at 175 kilograms (385.8 pounds), which she posted to her Instagram Story.
Rogers’ Recent Progress
Since the conclusion of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in August of 2021 where Rogers competed at 87 kilograms body weight, the Florida native has made solid progress at lighter body weights and turned in some impressive competitive results to boot.
Here is an illustration of her recent Totals across both domestic and international competitions:
- 2022 National Championships: 252KG at 76KG
- 2022 North American Open Series I: 250KG at 81KG*
- 2021 World Championships: 243KG at 76KG
- 2020 Olympic Games: 246KG at 87KG
Note: At the 2022 North American Open Series 1, Rogers competed at 81 kilograms but weighed in at only 76.5 kilos of body weight.
Since the Olympics wrapped up, Rogers has consistently and habitually increased her overall performance on the competition platform.
Rogers has maintained or increased her Total while moving down a weight class or two, though she has remarked on social media that “filling out” the 81 and 87-kilogram divisions was difficult in the past.
Big Lifts & a Bright Future
Although Rogers undeniably stole the show in the Women’s 76-kilogram division, her knockout lifting is far from the only exciting moment in Las Vegas. USAW’s National Championships Week, which began on June 25 and will wrap on July 3, has seen plenty of new records set (and broken).
Moreover, the high performers in Vegas are also making their cases for upcoming Pan-American and World team selection.
With the qualification process and competitive weight classes laid out for the 2024 Olympics, it’s time for Paris hopefuls like Rogers to put their heads down, keep their eyes forward, and get to work.
Featured Image: @unitedlifters on Instagram
