On Tuesday, Gainesville native and Chestatee High graduate Jenny Arthur achieved an impressive feat, as USA Weightlifting named Arthur to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team.
Arthur, who has been lifting since 2009, has consistently competed at the top for the past several years. Her cumulative score of the 2014 and 2015 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships was the highest among American female athletes – this fact alone qualifies her for her Olympic nomination based on USA Weightlifting selection criteria. In 2014, she placed 14th in 69 kilogram division and just this past month in Houston, she came in eighth in the 75kg category.
Arthur began competing in 2010 in the 69kg division and transitioned to the 75kg division in 2013; she has primarily been lifting at 75kg since then. She is a two-time National Champion, American Open Champion, Junior World Silver Medalists and Pan American Championship Silver Medalist and has competed in the past three consecutive IWF World Championships.
In the 75kg division, Arthur holds the senior and junior American records in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total. The clean and jerk (138kg) and total (244kg) records were set at Worlds last month. She is also the senior and junior American record holder of the clean and jerk in 69kg division.
Arthur has been a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, since 2012. She trains under the guidance of National Team Coach Zygmunt Smalcerz, a retired weightlifter and 1972 Olympic gold medalist. Prior to moving to the OTC, she was coached by Team Georgia Weightlifting’s Stan Luttrell in Gainesville.
“We are extremely pleased to have our first athlete nominated to the 2016 Olympic Team. Over the past several years, Jenny has thrived as a resident athlete at the Olympic Training Center, and her nomination is very well deserved. We will look forward to supporting her on the Road to Rio.” said Carissa Gump, Director of Corporate Services.
Off the platform, Arthur is very passionate about getting involved in the community and is a regular volunteer at a local children’s hospital. She aspires to volunteer at different homeless shelters around the world throughout her life.
