Tom is joined by olympic weightlifter and national coach Suzy Sanchez to discuss her career as an elite level weightlifter for USAW while navigating a diagnosis of PTSD and MDD. Tom and Suzy chat about the important qualities to look for in coaches, and how she turned her struggle into strength by becoming an advocate for weightlifters with mental health challenges.
Follow Suzy on Instagram: @thesuzysanchez
About Suzy:
A 15 year veteran of the sport of weightlifting, Suzy began her athletic career in 2008 after competing for three years in competitive high school powerlifting in Alvin, TX. After medaling at the 2009 university nationals Suzy connected with Olympic coach Dr. Kyle Pierce and shortly after moved to Shreveport, LA to train and study full time at LSU Shreveport. While training at LSUS Suzy had the opportunity to represent Team USA at the university level at the 2011 Summer Universiade and the 2012 University World Championships. After medaling at the 2012 University World championship Suzy received an invitation to move to Colorado Springs, CO to train full time at the Olympic Training Center. During her time at the training center Suzy had the opportunity to train under Olympic champion Zygmunt Smalcerz who introduced her to new training methodologies and modalities for sports performance. She qualified and competed at both the 2013 Summer Universiade and the 2014 University World Championships before leaving the training center at the end of 2014. Following her departure from the training center Suzy underwent corrective surgery for a shoulder injury and opened her club Beastmode Barbell in Friendswood, TX while working the 2015 IWF World Championships. Suzy now resides in Colorado Springs, CO and still competes locally in both weightlifting and powerlifting. She is currently a National level coach, USA Weightlifting course instructor, and Category 2 referee, and club director for the Retirement Home weightlifting club.
- 2009 University silver medalist
University bronze medalist
- 2010 National championship silver medalist
- 2010 Junior national championship bronze medalist
- 2010 American open silver medalist
University gold medalist
- 2011 National championship silver medalist
- 2011 American open champion
- 2012 University gold medalist
- 2012 National championship silver medalist
- 2012 University world silver medalist
- 2013 University gold medalist
- 2013 National championship bronze medalist
- 2013 American Open bronze medalist
- 2014 University gold medalist
- 2014 National championship silver medalist
*University American Clean and Jerk Record (2012, 2013, 2014)
