Little Rory van Ulft, seven, from Ottowa, is just four foot tall and started weightlifting just after her fifth birthday after she was scouted at a gymnastics class. This little girl has created a buzz by lifting weights of 80 kg.
She was recently crowned USA weightlifting under-11 and under-13s Youth National Champion in the 30kg weight class, making her the youngest US youth national champion in history, with her father Cavan revealing: ‘It would be fair to say Rory is the strongest little girl in the world.’ Meanwhile he insisted the unusual hobby is safe for his daughter, explaining: ‘Her safety is everyone’s top priority. She progresses in her training for both sports carefully and methodically.’ She began training just after her fifth birthday. The young one has also bagged several awards. The schoolgirl can snatch 32kg and clean and jerk 42kg as well as squatting 61kg, and deadlifting 80kg using an Olympic women’s bar. She also wears temporary tattoos for her shows. Rory said: ‘I wear tattoos because I like them. I think they’re cool.’
The International Weightlifting Federation measures pound-for-pound strength using Sinclair coefficients. The athlete of any body weight with the highest Sinclair total is awarded the title of best lifter. Cavan and his wife Lindsay explained Rory’s staggering Sinclair competition total of 213.738 makes her the best pound-for-pound 11-and-under lifter in the States. Offering advice to other girls concerning taking up weightlifting, Rory said: ‘Don’t ever think about the weight. Just think about your form.’
