National Masters Weightlifting Champion: Coach Zac Chavez

A note from Coach Zac…

Hey CrossFit Sanitas, Coach Zac here!

As many of you know I recently competed at Masters Nationals for weightlifting. Weightlifting is the sport of 2 lifts: the snatch and the clean & jerk. In weightlifting you have 3 attempts to lift in the snatch followed by 3 attempts to lift in the clean & jerk. Awards are given for the heaviest snatch, clean & jerk as well as for the total of the two lifts. Judges watch to determine if you meet the standards for arm lockout, smooth bar path, and overall successfully completing the lift.

I travelled to Philadelphia in mid March to compete in Masters Nationals, in the 67 kg (147 lbs) weight class. I brought my wife, best friend and coach, Ashley with me. In the snatch I went 2 for 3 first hitting 96 kg (211 lbs) and 102 kg (224 lbs) and then missing 108 kg (238 lbs). In the clean & jerk I also went 2 for 3 first hitting 120 kg (264 lbs) and 131 kg (288 lbs) and then missed 136 kg (299 lbs).

My total of 233 kg lifted between the two lifts earned me a gold medal and even cooler than that, I now hold the American record for the clean & jerk for masters 35 to 39 years old in the 67 kg weight class! The nest step for me is Pan American Masters in May taking place in Orlando, FL. If I lift well there I will try to go to Masters Worlds in Poland in August. Winning all three would earn me a Masters Grand Slam Plaque for winning all 3 in a calendar year. This is very hard to do given the need to peak for 3 separate competitions.

I hope to write to you again soon as a Pan Am and then a World Masters Champion!

Thank you for the support!

Coach Zac