Please Help With My Trip To The AO!!

I hope all is well with you all!

 You all know I’m really passionate about Olympic Weightlifting. It’s been a huge part of my life for the last few years, but I’ve never really told a lot of people about why it’s so important to me. At first it was something different and interesting. The binary nature of the sport was something that was exciting to me. Is he/she going to make the lift? Those few seconds of preparation to making the lift was an exhilarating feeling for me not only as a lifter but as a spectator as well.

Fast-forward to earlier this year a lot of the hard work really started to pay off when I qualified for the American Open – a senior level National competition. This has been a big goal of mine ever since I started to train in weightlifting a couple of years ago.

As I look back when Manny first introduced me to Olympic Weightlifting at NorthEast CrossFit, I never thought it was something I would excel at. Truthfully, I was pretty terrible when I first started and it was really frustrating. This hindsight really gives me some perspective and appreciation for everyone who helped me along the way.

 As time went on, you guys – my closest friends – and many others I’ve met, both in and out of weightlifting, have really encouraged and motivated me to keep pushing myself past the frustrations and go “all in” on becoming the best I could be. It’s really changed my life in so many ways, and I’m so appreciative of you guys supporting me.

 Your support over the past few years makes me all the more excited to compete at this national level competition and to keep sharing my successes (and also my setbacks) with you along the way.

 Ever since my first local competition at The Athlete’s Warehouse in Garden City in Nassau County a few years ago, successfully competing in a national competition has been a huge goal of mine. I still have that competitive spirit that has allowed each of us to achieve great things whether it is related to weightlifting or to life in general. It’s that drive that gets me excited to lift and train, even on days I really don’t feel like it, and work towards goals that are just outside of my reach but I know are obtainable.

 It’s really been a bumpy rollercoaster ride though. Last year, I had my biggest accomplishment so far but also my biggest setback. I qualified for University Nationals, a national age-group competition, and was so close to realizing my goal until situations took place that made it hard for me to compete at a high level such as lifting early in the morning (a big difference as I have always lifted at night) and dealing with nagging injuries that have persisted – mainly my back. Despite putting everything I had into it, I failed to make any of my lifts.

 It’s hard to describe how it feels to have this huge goal you’re working towards, where you do everything right for so long, you put in the work, you make so many sacrifices and then everything falls apart because of bad luck.

 I was so disappointed and frustrated. Even when I willed myself into the gym a few days later, I felt like a zombie – just trudging along and not putting much into my workout. I started questioning my effort and motivation and whether all the time and training and effort I’d given were ever even worth it. I felt like a failure and it sucked.

 I started questioning whether to just give up on Olympic Weightlifting and give up on my dreams. It took a little time, but I finally started asking myself how I would feel about myself if I gave up.

I realized I couldn’t let it end this way. I owed it to myself to those of you who have been so supportive of me keep going.  I wasn’t done. I had to accept responsibility and motivate myself to keep pushing forward because I know I’m capable of more.

 Since that moment last year, I’ve thrown everything I have into this. It’s not easy and it’s not always fun. Weathering physical and emotional storm that comes with each failure makes me appreciate the taste of victory and success a lot more. I not only see this chance to compete at the American Open as an exciting opportunity, but also as a culmination of all the achievements and shortcomings I’ve gone through the past few years in weightlifting and life, in general.  

 While many people enjoyed a summer full of fun activities and beautiful destinations, I focused on enjoying the opportunity to train as hard as I could in a hot gym. I used the past few months (and then some) working tirelessly towards this goal. I trained with an increased level of discipline and purpose. It was bitter work and it still is. But I do it because I know I can’t enjoy the fruits of my labor if I don’t put in the labor in first – and I can’t accept that.

 This is not to say I don’t have a good time whenever the moment comes. I lift with great training partners who I’m lucky to have as friends and their advice and coaching have pushed me further than I ever could have pushed myself alone.

 This year’s American Open takes place in December on the other side of the country in Anaheim, California. While I’m excited at the possibility of competing Southern California during the cold NY December, the reality is I can’t afford to make the trip on my own.

I don’t make this request lightly. I know it’s a lot for me to ask, and if you’re not feeling it, I totally understand. More than anything, I need to know that I’m doing whatever I possibly can to achieve my dream and it’s so important to me to let you know that your support over the past few years is what’s gotten me to this point.

 I know I’ll find a way to make this happen and I can’t wait to take you along for the ride. When I first started Olympic Weightlifting a few years ago, successfully competing in a national competition seemed impossible and now I’m so close it’s almost unbelievable.

 Thanks so much for your support guys. I truly appreciate it.

P.S. With the events of the past week so fresh in my mind, it didn’t feel quite right to ask for your financial support solely for myself when so many others are in need, so I wanted to let you know I’ll be matching 50% and donating separately of whatever I raise to assist in the recovery from Hurricane Harvey.