Hampton Morris: Olympic medallist, world champion and… loader!

After his Olympic medal this summer in Paris, he could have skipped the IWF World Junior Championships in Leon (ESP). He didn’t. He came and was world champion. Yesterday, on the second day of the event. Today, he could have enjoyed a deserved tour of the historical and beautiful Spanish town, and taste the local food, as he told the media after his gold medal. He didn’t. He was this morning again in the field of play, but on the “other side” of the competition. As a loader, during the first B session of the day, the men’s 67kg. He is Hampton Morris!

“As someone who loves the Sport so much, I think it’s important to participate more in the community.  Not just as a lifter, or an athlete… At home, at our Nationals, I did the same after I competed. It is however my first time at an international meet,” confesses the US star. “Loading is one of the hardest parts of our competitions. Loaders really do a lot of work – I think being here is a kind of recognition for the importance of their job”. With some sweat droplets on his forehead, the Olympic bronze medallist in the 61kg recognises: “Running back and forth, and jumping on and off the stage is perhaps the most challenging part of it…”

On the “other side” of the competition

Reflecting on his remarkable achievement – he was the first US male lifter on an Olympic podium since the 1980s – Morris obviously keeps vivid memories from that afternoon, on August 7:  “I am really proud with what I managed to accomplish in Paris… When I flew home, the reception there was great. A lot of friends and family were able to come to Paris and support me, but returning to the US I was amazed at the number of people celebrating with me”. Morris was however quite fast in coming back to his normal routine: “After Paris, my life hasn’t changed much. I was basically back to training. Maybe I talk a bit more with the media now… It’s fun!”

At 20, it was the biggest highlight in a career that includes so far one youth and two junior world titles, three Pan-American wins, and a gold medal in clean & jerk at the 2023 IWF World Championships in Riyadh (KSA). Moreover, he is the current 61kg World Record holder in the clean & jerk (176kg, both senior and junior) and C&J (156kg) and Total (276kg) in the youth charts.

After his win in Leon

In Leon, he was the favourite to win, and he didn’t disappoint. His performance was below his expectations. The US champion got the gold in 126-165-291 and even had a WR attempt in the C&J, at 177kg.  He was unsuccessful. “I know I can do it. I just wasn’t ‘there’ yesterday…”

The next available opportunity to make it could be the IWF World Championships next December in Manama (BRN). “We are still deciding if we go to the Senior Worlds. It would be a very funny trip to go, but it would also mean a lot of travel this year…”

Celebrating his bronze medal at the Olympics

Morris made in Leon his last junior appearance, but despite his young age, he is the lifter to watch in the US men’s team. “I don’t feel much pressure for being perhaps a reference in the US team. I just feel that when I compete I need to go there and give my best. That’s my only pressure: myself”. And he adds: “In the US, things are progressing well. I feel that I am a part of that progression. It’s really exciting to see where our country is going in the years to come, especially with the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles”.

Four years is an eternity in an athlete’s life, but Morris is not afraid to look ahead: “The first goal is to try making the team for LA. I am sure we will have a great team there”. On a personal level, his quickest reply during the entire interview comes when asked if he feels there is room for improvement.

“Definitively!”

By Pedro Adrega
IWF Communications