Local Olympic-Hopeful National Champion, Headed to China Grand Prix

Local Palm Desert native, Anthony Pomponio, is the new USA Weightlifting National Champion for the men’s senior 85kg weight class. The event took place in Dallas, Texas on August 16, 2015.

Pomponio swept gold in the snatch, clean & jerk and overall total score. This weight class had over 70 competitors, making it the largest class in USA Weightlifting history!

During the snatch session, Pomponio was the last lifter to step onto the platform since his opening weight that he was attempting was the heaviest in the class. He competed his first attempt at 150 kg and was able to secure gold in this opening lift. He completed his final attempt at an increased the weight of 154 kg which was a personal record in competition.

Things took a dramatic turn of events during the clean & jerk portion of the session. His plan was to open with a 185 KG lift and to increase the weight in the next two attempts. However, he missed his first two attempts. With everything on the line, he had to make this final attempt in order to not get disqualified from the competition. He finally completed the lift at 185 kg, securing him gold in the clean & jerk as well as a personal record in competition.

With a combined score of 339 kg, Pomponio won gold in overall total score and became the new National Champion in his weight class. This overall score was also a personal record competition total.

Pomponio’s performance also earned his personal coach, local business owner, Nick Frasca, a coach’s award for the session.

Frasca discovered Pomponio’s natural abilities in late 2010. Pomponio then began training at Frasca’s Weightlifting gym, The Yard in Palm Desert.

UP NEXT, THE CHINA GRAND PRIX!...
Pomponio has been invited to compete at the Grand Prix in Fuzhou, China during September 21-23, 2015.

At first he was not sure if he would be able to participate in this event due to competition and traveling expenses. He then received great news from his supplement sponsor, local company in Rancho Mirage CARR Cellular Fitness, that they were going to completely cover all his expenses.

This event is one of the individual qualification events needed for the 2016 Olympics. This means, this event will count towards one of the two events that every Olympic-hopeful in weightlifting needs to qualify for the Olympics. This will be Pomponio’s first individual qualification event.

THE OLYMPIC TRIALS:
The Grand Prix in China will also qualify Pomponio to compete in the USA Olympic Trials that will take place early next year. Only one individual qualification event is needed to qualify for the trials.

Success at the Olympic Trials will automatically place Pomponio on the USA Pan-American Team. The Pan-American Championships will take place in June 2016, and will count as another individual qualification event for the 2016 Olympic Team.

LIFE AT THE OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER:
Pomponio began full-time training at the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs. Athletes from various sports train at the OTC throughout the yearm such as swimmer and Olympian Michael Phelps, whom Pomponio has met on occasion in the dining hall and recovery center.

A week of training consists of nine sessions ( 2x day M-W-F, 1x day T-TH-S), with over 50+ spent at the OTC during training, recovery, therapy and dining. Pomponio is an off-campus resident living about ½ mile away from the OTC in Downtown Colorado Springs.

--News release