8-Year-Old Weightlifter Rory Van Ulft Can Deadlift 200 Lbs.: 'You Always Have to Try Your Best'

Photo: Rory van Ulft/instagram

Two-time U.S. weightlifting Youth National ChampionRory van Ulftcan lift more than she weighs!

The 8-year-old former gymnast can clean and jerk over 100 pounds, deadlift 200 pounds, and squat 160 pounds.

After picking up weightlifting to help with her gymnastics training, the Ottawa native first hit the competition floor in 2019 at 6 years old. She performed a 50-pound clean and jerk and a 38-pound snatch, according toInsider.

Van Ulft now has several weightlifting championships under her belt and has doubled her clean-and-jerk weight.

However, her parents Lindsay and Cavan told the outlet that while those in the weightlifting community have been supportive, the family also faced judgment from outsiders who felt the sport was unsafe.

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“What I want people to take away from this is how good strength sports are for your daughter. I get the evidence every day,” she continued.

After watching the Tokyo Olympics over the summer, Rory now has her eye on becoming an Olympic weightlifting champ as well, which her family said they will wholeheartedly support.

“Rory can do weightlifting as long as she wants. If she wants to quit, she can quit,” Lindsay said. “We’re just along for the ride to help her do whatever she wants to accomplish.”

Aside from having enormous strength and determination, the young athlete is thoughtful in the advice she gives to other girls and boys her age: “You always have to try your best. Even if you don’t get what you’re trying to make that day, you still tried as hard as you can. And you should keep trying until you can’t.”

source: people.com