CJ Cummings And Jourdan Delacruz Make Olympic Debuts In Weightlifting
by Karen Price
Jourdan Delacruz competes during the Weightlifting - Women's 49kg Group A at the Tokyo Olympic Games on July 24, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
Jourdan Delacruz made her Olympic debut and also started things off for the eight-member U.S. team, the largest and first full team in 25 years, on the first day of medal events.
Delacruz, 23, got off to a strong start in the women’s 49 kg. category, hitting an 83 kg. snatch and an 86 kg. snatch. After that, there was a hiccup.
Delacruz, from Wylie, Texas, holds the Pan American and American snatch record at 89 kg., set just three months ago, and at first attempt she thought she’d matched the weight in Tokyo. Two of the three judges, however, said it wasn’t a lift, and despite a challenge the ruling held because of a press-out.
Still, her second lift had her in third place going into the clean and jerk. There she was unable to make a successful lift, however, and since the Olympic competition rewards only total points, she did not earn a place.
She wrote on Instagram afterward:
“I set one goal for myself this cycle and it was to be all around my strongest self and when I make it through this pain I believe I will have accomplished this goal and more. I love sport for this very reason. Nothing compares. Sport pushes you past comfort 100% of the time. I am going to be with my family and best friends very soon feeling all the feels. But for now I wanted to thank everyone who has reached out to me with the kindest words. Thank you to all who have stuck with me and supported my journey.”
Next up was four-time men’s junior world champion CJ Cummings, competing in the 73 kg. category on Wednesday.
Cummings, 20, missed his opening snatch attempt at 145 kg. but made his second. Next the Beaufort, South Carolina, native went for 150 kg. but wasn’t successful.
His first clean and jerk at 180 kg. was good, and after failing at 190 he decided to go big and make a run at the American, Pan American and Olympic record at 196 kg. for his third attempt. It was a no-go, but Cummings finished with a total of 325 kg. and a ninth place standing.
Still waiting to compete are Wes Kitts (109 kg.), Harrison Maurus (81 kg.), Kate Nye (76 kg.), Sarah Robles (+87 kg.), Mattie Rogers (87 kg) and Caine Wilkes (+109 kg.).
Want to follow Team USA athletes during the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020? Visit TeamUSA.org/Tokyo2020 to view the medal table, results and competition schedule.