Riley Thomas; Senior, said that going into the event, she felt “really nervous.” She admitted that when she saw the other lifters warming up, “some of them looked so strong and experienced,” and it made her “stomach…in knots.” Since it was her first time competing in something like that, it “felt way more real than just lifting in our school gym.” With the platforms set up, judges everywhere, and a big crowd forming, she said it was exciting, but it also made her feel “shaky.” She kept wondering “if I was ready or if I’d mess up in front of everyone,” so she tried to “just focus on my warm-up” and block everything else out.
The lift Riley was most proud of was her last clean and jerk. She explained that the weight on the bar was “the most I’d ever tried for in competition.” When she walked up for the attempt, she said “the noise kind of faded away,” and all she could think about was “the bar in front of me.” She remembered taking “a big breath and just going for it,” pulling hard, getting under it, and driving it up. When she locked her arms out and stood steady, she described the feeling as “incredible.” Hearing her friends and teammates cheering from the bleachers was “the best part.” She said it wasn’t just about making the lift, but “proving to myself that I could handle the pressure when it really counted.”
Riley also said her partner was “a huge help” in keeping her calm and motivated. They weren’t very loud, but they were always there when she needed them. Between lifts, they would give her a nod or say something simple like, “You know how to do this,” or “Just like practice.” When she started getting tired and doubting herself, they helped her focus on “the next single lift instead of the whole competition.” Knowing she had someone in her corner who believed in her made the nervous feeling “a lot smaller.” She said it felt like “we were in it together,” even though they were lifting separately.
Riley explained that the hardest part of the whole competition wasn’t the actual lifting—it was “the waiting.” After each turn, she had to sit and wait for her next attempt while everyone else went. She said, “your body starts to cool down,” your heart stops racing, and your brain has “way too much time to think.” She found herself overthinking her technique and watching other people make or miss lifts, which made “the nerves creep back in.” She described learning how to stay ready and keep her mind quiet during those long breaks as “a real struggle,” and possibly “the biggest challenge of the day.”
When asked if she would compete in Beauty and the Beast again, Riley answered, “Absolutely, yes.” She said it was “one of the hardest things I’ve done,” but also “really fun.” Having almost the whole school there cheering created “this awesome atmosphere,” and it felt like everyone was supporting each other. The competition pushed her “way past where I thought I could go,” both physically and mentally. She said it was tough, but “the feeling after was worth every bit of the stress.” In the end, she said she “learned a lot” about herself and would “totally sign up to do it all over again.”
