28 year old Mattie Rogers is currently one of the most popular Olympic Weightlifters in the world, as well as being one of the top athletes in her 81kg weight category.
She has continued to become a fan favorite as her career has progressed, and thus many weightlifting fans are familiar with her career stats, but what can we share here that isn’t as well known?
Below we have compiled a list of 5 facts about Mattie Rogers that you probably don’t already know.
1. Gymnastics, Cheerleading, and CrossFit Background
Before stepping onto the weightlifting platform, Mattie Rogers was deeply involved in gymnastics and cheerleading. These sports require a high level of agility, strength, and coordination—traits that have undoubtedly contributed to her success in weightlifting.
She then started training in CrossFit, which is where she fell in love with the barbell and transitioned to become a full time Olympic Weightlifter.
Her early exposure to these disciplines has given her a unique edge, especially in terms of flexibility and balance, which are crucial in lifts like the snatch and clean and jerk. (Source)
2. Her first viral video was a weightlifting fail on Twitter
Back in 2016 before Mattie Rogers was a household name in the world of weightlifting she would post her lifting videos on Twitter where her followers would grow at a decent pace, but nothing like they are now.
That quickly changed thanks to one short video that happened to go viral, racking up over 2,000 retweets and over 3,300 likes.
You can watch the video below.
Although the video was a “fail” it sparked Roger’s growth on social media and allowed her to catch the attention of some early sponsors.
Related: Mattie Rogers is Now Officially The Most Popular Weightlifter on Earth
3. She trained on her living room rug during COVID
During the height of the COVID madness in 2020 & 2021 Mattie Rogers cut up her living room rug into multiple pieces in order to make her garage floor more level so that she could train there while the gyms were closed.
This level of commitment shows her dedication to maintaining her training regimen, no matter the circumstances. (Source)
4. She fact-checked her own Wikipedia page
In an era where misinformation can spread easily, Mattie took the proactive step of fact-checking her own Wikipedia page before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She actually found a number of incorrect facts that she later had corrected.
As one of the most popular athletes in the sport of weightlifting it’s important that the information about her is accurate, especially when it comes to sponsors, media publications, and so on. (Source)
Related: Who is USA Weightlifter Mattie Rogers? Olympic Athlete and Social Media Star
5. She became champion at 22 years old
By the time she reached 22, Mattie Rogers had already clinched titles as a World University Champion and an American Open winner.
She also earned the distinction of “Best Overall Lifter” at both the National Championships and the 2016 Olympic Trials, even though she narrowly missed making the U.S. Olympic Team that year.
Fast forward to 2019, and Rogers made history by becoming the first American woman to secure medals at the World Championships for three consecutive years.
Her record-setting performances in the snatch and clean & jerk have led some experts to consider her the greatest American female weightlifter in her weight categories of 69kg and 71kg.
Summary
Each of these lesser-known facts about Mattie Rogers offers a unique lens through which to view her as not just an athlete, but as a dedicated, multifaceted individual. Whether it’s her early beginnings in gymnastics, her savvy use of social media, or her commitment to training and accuracy, Mattie Rogers is a compelling figure in the world of weightlifting.
Read Next: The Rise of Mihaela Cambei: A Look at Her Career and 2023 World Weightlifting Championships Prospects
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