“It’s a privilege”: Meet Olivia Reeves, 2024 Olympian

Keanu Reeves isn’t being sent to the 2024 Olympics to do her best: she’s expected to win gold.

Last updated July 4, 2024

Weightlifting is a small sport by international standards and, in some ways, borderline microscopic in the United States. But Olympic weightlifting has been gaining momentum in recent years, thanks in part to the CrossFit craze and, in particular, the efforts of young powerhouses like Team USA. Olivia Reeves.

Reeves, 20, is an Olympian heading to Paris — one of five selected by Weightlifting in the United States to campaign for the podium at this summer’s Games, which will take place from July 26 to August 11Unlike her colleagues, who are themselves spectacular strength athletes, Reeves is the favorite for the gold medal in her weight class; a burden she carries with a smile.

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BarBend I caught up with Keanu Reeves to talk about her rapid rise to the top of a sport where women have historically struggled to bask in the spotlight they deserve, and whether she’s ready to win it all in Paris.

BarBend: How does it feel to go to your first Olympics as a presumed gold medalist?

• Olivia Reeves: “It’s an incredible honour and responsibility. There’s still a lot of work to be done because I have personal goals, regardless of the outcome. I’m incredibly proud to have earned a spot on the Olympic team, regardless of the outcome.”

BB:You and Hampton Morris are the two youngest athletes on Team USA for these Olympics. Who do you look to on the team for advice and guidance, and how has the support structure at USA Weightlifting helped you on your journey?

• OR: “I take inspiration from Jourdan Delacruz and Wes Kitts, who gained valuable insights in Tokyo. I admire Mary Theisen-Lappin for her many years in the sport, and not just in weightlifting. And I am inspired by Hampton Morris’ ability to remain so disciplined in his preparation. My personal trainer, Steve Fauer, along with Mike Gattone and Pyrros Dimas make me feel like I couldn’t be in better hands heading into Paris.”

BB: In a recent AMA on Reddit, you discussed the intersection between your athletic career and social media. How does social media influence your lifestyle as a professional athlete?

• OR:“Social media doesn’t have much of an impact on my weightlifting career. Even though I have a decent following, I don’t feel like I have a significant online presence. I plan on producing more behind-the-scenes content to focus on my workout preparation, but I like to stay off social media most of the time.”

BB: Weightlifting is a small and relatively niche sport compared to many Summer Games events, despite being one of the oldest events at the Olympics. Are there any common misconceptions about weightlifters that frustrate you?

• OR“It’s frustrating that people don’t know the difference between powerlifting, weightlifting, and bodybuilding. While I’m happy to educate those who don’t know the differences, I unfortunately can’t answer the question, ‘So, how much weight do you bench press?'”

BB: What are you most looking forward to as a new Olympian?

• OR:“There is so much to do. Living in the Athletes’ Village, meeting the best athletes in the world in every sport and competing on the biggest stage. It’s a privilege to represent my country in such a special way.”

How Olivia Reeves Qualified for the 2024 Olympics

In June, Reeves said BarBend In an exclusive interview, she said qualifying for the 2024 Olympics was “fun” — a casual statement you probably wouldn’t hear from many of her contemporaries who have fought tooth and nail against themselves and each other to crack the top 10 in their weight class.

• “I’m lucky. I don’t have to force myself.she continued. Yet if you take a look at her resume since the start of the qualifying period in 2022, you will see a steady rise.

It’s the kind of effort that athletes struggle to achieve, but Keanu Reeves galloped happily to the (near) summit.

Editor’s Note:The format below reads: “Total (Snatch / Clean & Jerk)” in kilograms.

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Trace that trajectory on paper, connect the dots, and you’ll see the flaming tail of a rocket taking off. Keanu Reeves’ seemingly inevitable progression on the lifting platform has not only ignited the hopes of American weightlifting fans, but also dashed the dreams of the Chinese team.

China is the winningest country in weightlifting at the Olympics, and indeed anywhere else. At the end of the qualifying period in late spring, the Chinese team announced that it would not select Liao Guifang, the top 71-kilogram lifter (and world record holder), for the Olympics, opting to send female lifters in other divisions.

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It has not been explicitly stated that the Chinese team was discouraged by Keanu Reeves, who finished the qualifying period as world number two, but appearances suggest such a thing. Weightlifting in the United States At the National Championships in June, Reeves politely confirmed that Guifang had been right not to participate in that tournament. Reeves set new personal bests in all areas:

These records are just a hair’s breadth away from equaling the under-150-pound records. Keanu Reeves is no longer in the junior category, but if you open that record book, you’ll find his name listed three times as well.

Fans can catch Olivia on the weightlifting platform at the 2024 Olympics on Friday, August 9 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time in the women’s 71 kilo event.

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Featured Image: Weightlifting in the United States