At Last, Superheavyweight Finds Her Olympic Niche

Jerry Kenney — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 20:48:00 +0000

Near the back of the North YMCA in Columbus, Ohio, several men and women line up on a row of beat-up platforms. They take turns practicing the two lifts that make up Olympic weightlifting; the "Snatch," and the "Clean and Jerk."

The goal? To hoist large amounts of weight from the floor into an overhead position.

Among the lifters here is 5-foot-8 inch, 350-pound Holley Mangold. She is the epitome of power, in appearance, attitude and athletic ability.

Mangold, 22, has spent years trying on different sports in pursuit of her Olympic dreams.