UW Kinesiology and Health Senior Competes Toward Olympic-Level Weightlifting

While the world's eyes have been on the recent Summer Olympics in Paris, one University of Wyoming student has been making a name for herself as a student-athlete competing toward Olympic-level weightlifting.

Emma Rogers, a senior in UW's Division of Kinesiology and Health in the College of Health Sciences, majoring in kinesiology and health promotion, explored several athletic interests at Pinedale High School. She was a standout in swimming, track and basketball, but her real passion centered on training for the Olympics as a weightlifter.

Rogers spent her early years training in her hometown, where her focus on weightlifting was more defined working under Mariana Green, founder of Iron Kitchen Weightlifting in Pinedale. Even after leaving home to attend UW, the two remained in touch for training, inspiration and encouragement.

"In the Olympic weightlifting world, they say it takes about seven years to reach your technique potential," Green says in a recent article in WyoSports. "(Rogers) is willing to put in the amount of time and focus that she needs. She's always been very coachable."

Although Rogers did not find any weightlifting clubs or teams on the UW campus, this did not hinder her from continuing to train and compete.

"In my free time, I compete in the sport of Olympic weightlifting," Rogers says. "Due to the fact that the University of Wyoming doesn't have a club or athletic team associated with my sport, I train and compete under my own coaching. I have gone to a handful of competitions representing the University of Wyoming, the most recent being University Nationals in Columbus, Ohio. At this competition, I placed second, earning an All-American title under the University of Wyoming's name."

Rogers completed a successful trip to the USA Weightlifting University Nationals at the Arnold Classic in July, winning silver medals in the snatch, clean and jerk and combined total.

Rogers completed six total lifts -- three snatch and three clean and jerk -- topping out at 90 kg (200 pounds) in snatch, 114 kg (250 pounds) in the clean and jerk and a combined total of 204 kg (450 pounds). The lifts secured Rogers the title of All-American, as an athlete can qualify by making 75 percent of the national ranking system total, according to USA Weightlifting.

She is now ranked nationally as the second-best weightlifter in her age group (17-25) and ranks fourth nationally among all categories.

As of July 16, Rogers was formally invited by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) to represent USA Weightlifting as one of the top student-athlete weightlifters in the country at the FISU America Games in Cali, Colombia, in November.

"I am extremely excited and blessed to have this opportunity to represent my country, myself and the University of Wyoming," Rogers says.

"This remarkable achievement is a testament to Emma's hard work, perseverance and outstanding athletic talent," says Michelle Hilaire, interim dean of the College of Health Sciences. "We are confident that her determination and sportsmanship will inspire others and bring honor and recognition to the University of Wyoming."

As a student-athlete, Rogers is often responsible for funding her own travel, lodging and attendance at competitions. For those wishing to support Rogers in her weightlifting training and competitions, visit https://gofund.me/933e27f5.

About the University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences

UW's College of Health Sciences trains health and wellness professionals and researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, speech-language pathology, social work, kinesiology, public health, health administration and disability studies. The college also oversees residency and fellowship programs in Casper and Cheyenne, as well as operating a speech/hearing clinic in Laramie and primary care clinics in Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne.

With more than 1,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the college is dedicated to training the health and wellness workforce of Wyoming and conducting high-quality research and community engagement, with a particular focus on rural and frontier populations.