When American weightlifter Mattie Rogers sees a loaded barbell and an opportunity to add another medal to her resume, she seldom misses. A two-time Senior Pan-American Champion — once in the 81-kilogram weight class in 2020 and once in the 76-kilogram class in 2022 — Rogers has built a reputation for incredible feats on lifting platforms. She painted another brilliant portrait during the 2022 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Weightlifting Championships (WWC) in Bogotá, Colombia.
On Dec. 13, 2022, during the 2022 IWF WWC, Rogers captured a 109-kilogram (240.3-pound) snatch and a 138-kilogram (304.2-pound) clean & jerk for a 247-kilogram (544.5-pound) total. The podium performance garnered Rogers silver medals in the 76-kilogram division on each figure. Not to be overlooked, Rogers also locked in a unique individual mark. By medaling at the Worlds once again, the athlete became the first modern American weightlifter ever to notch a medal in five consecutive appearances.
Rogers’ run of international excellence on this stage dates back to the 2017 IWF Worlds when she took home a snatch silver medal, a clean & jerk bronze medal, and a total silver medal in the 69-kilogram weight class. After only notching a clean & jerk bronze medal at the 2018 iteration of the IFW Worlds, Rogers has now captured three medals in three consecutive World Championships since 2019. At the time of this writing, she is the most decorated active American weightlifter at this international level, with 13 Senior medals since her Worlds debut in 2015.
Note: There was no 2020 edition of the IWF Worlds so as to not overlap with the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in the same year. Those, however, would be postponed until Summer 2021 due to COVID-19 concerns.
Here’s an overview of the Women’s 76-kilogram podium at the 2022 IWF Worlds, featuring Rogers in second place:
2022 IWF World Weightlifting Championships | Women’s 76-Kilogram Podium
- First place — Sara Samir Ahmed (Egypt): 261-kilogram (575.4-pound) total | 113-kilogram (249.1-pound) snatch | 148-kilogram (326.3-pound) clean & jerk
- Second place — Mattie Rogers (United States): 247-kilogram (544.5-pound) total | 109-kilogram (240.3-pound) snatch | 138-kilogram (304.2-pound) clean & jerk
- Third place — Kim Su-hyeon (South Korea): 245-kilogram (540.1-pound) total | 108-kilogram (238.1-pound) snatch | 137-kilogram (302-pound) clean & jerk
In a post on her Instagram, Rogers beamed with pride at her latest Worlds accomplishment. As the weightlifter looked ahead to a likely transition to the 81-kilogram category moving forward — especially in qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games — she seemed appreciative of what she achieved as a 71-kilogram athlete.
“Fifth consecutive Worlds medals!” Rogers wrote. “Not my best day, but also not my worst, and silver is silver! I’m walking away, both bummed and proud. It’s always hard to be pleased with so many missed attempts on the stage, but I can’t be mad at my medal streak living on for one more year … Time to actually bid farewell to the 76-kilogram category (for real this time) and keep on working. My favorite thing to do.”
Featured image: @mattierogersoly on Instagram
