Just over a year ago, senior Matthew Brown was asking his father Chris Brown about his weightlifting career before he decided to follow in his footsteps. Since then, he has won competitions against weightlifters from all over the Midwest and hopes to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
According to USA Weightlifting, Matthew is tied for 8th in the country for the Junior division, 69 kilogram weight class as of Jan. 19.
In his youth, Chris won the 1988 American Weightlifting Championships and the 23 and Under National Championships while winning the Junior Olympics three times en route to an invite to the Olympic trials.
“I never pushed my agenda on my kids,” said Chris. “I wanted them to carve their path. Fitness has always been big with our family and it just so happened that [Matthew] was very strong and naturally gravitated toward weightlifting.”
On weekdays, Matthew trains at CrossFit Rise in Schaumburg, Ill. and does not get home until around 8 p.m. As a varsity lacrosse captain and an all-conference player, he has been leading team workouts since Sept. in addition to his weightlifting training.
Justin Georgacakis, head boys varsity lacrosse coach, said Matthew has remained consistent with his attendance and is a “natural leader.”
“He really upholds everything that any [athletic] program would stand for,” said Georgacakis. “There’s not a characteristic that he has that [anybody would not] want.”
In the Illinois State Weightlifting Championship last April, Matthew was behind the lead for the entire competition until he only had one attempt left. In order to win, he had to try a lift that was three kilograms more than he had ever done before. He completed it and wound up in first place.
Thus far in his weightlifting career, Matthew has won all three of his competitions for the under 20-level in his weight class, including the Sayre Park Winter Classic, the 2012 Illinois state meet, and the Mid-American Weightlifting Championship, which qualified him for the Junior Nationals competition in Calif. this Feb.
“My initial goals were to give my dad’s numbers a run for their money,” said Matthew. “[I had] no sight of Nationals in mind at that point, now it’s a reality so I’m just looking to be the most competitive I can.”
Next fall, Matthew plans to continue weightlifting in Dallas, Tex. while attending Southern Methodist University. In order for him to qualify for the Olympics, the United States will have to earn a spot in the 2015 World Weightlifting Championship competition. If Matthew qualifies, he will have to advance past the Olympic trials before getting to Rio.
“He is on a path to exceed everything that I have accomplished,” said Chris. “I’m excited to watch it play out.”