KATHERINE NYE INTERVIEW
Katherine Nye rapidly broke into the world weightlifting elite, winning a silver medal at the Junior World Championship in 2018. After that, in 2019, she has won in the new weight category of 71 kg in the Pan-American Championship, the World Junior Championship and the adult World Championship in a row. Meanwhile, her winning total was increasing with the each following competition. But it cannot be said that all the victories came without any difficulties: each of those starts was not easy in its own way and required a lot of strength and energy to win! In this article read about how Katherine lives, trains, and what she dreams about!
- Can you tell us about your sport background before WL and how did you start WL?
I was a gymnast for 11 years prior to weightlifting. I quit when I was 15 years old and started Crossfit shortly thereafter. Soon after finding Crossfit, I fell in love with weightlifting by the time I was 17.
- 2019 was a rich medal year for you. What does it take to compete on the top level?
To be at the top level, I have had to sacrifice a lot of things like school, work, volunteering, etc. so I could focus 100% on weightlifting. You have to eat, sleep, and breathe the sport and want success more than anything else.
- Was it hard to compete on the WWC this year with your teammate nearby?
Not at all! Mattie and I have competed together multiple times and I think it’s really motivating for us to push each other. It has been great for the progress in our weight class domestically.
Photo by iwf.net
- How does your ordinary training routine look like?
I train 6 days out of the week with 8 training sessions. Each day requires about 3-4 hours of solid training along with recovery modalities on my own time.
- What do you like and do besides WL training?
I really like to travel and explore new places. I obviously don’t get to do (recreational) traveling often because of my weightlifting schedule, but that’s something I want to do a lot after this quad! I also like playing with my dog and cooking.
- What type of recovery do you prefer?
I like working with a physical therapist for massages, Rapid Reboots, TENS units, and my Hypervolt. Prehab and Rehab routines are really big for me too!
- The best Kilos you have ever lifted?
Snatch - 113 kg
Clean and Jerk - 138 kg
Back Squat - 185 kg
Front squat - 150 kg
Pull - 160 kg
- What do you like the most in a training process?
I like high intensity: heavy singles, doubles, maxing our complexes or squats)
- What do you hate the most in a training process?
I don’t like the last couple of weeks in a volume block when I feel like my body is falling apart, but I also don’t like deloads. It’s a vicious cycle!
- Funny stories or fuckups at the competitions?
At my second competition ever I power cleaned (lol) and when I went to jerk, it was going behind me and I didn’t really let go. So I went down with the barbell and landed right on my butt.
- In your interview to Bar Bend you said that visualizing helps a lot. Do you recommend this drill to everyone?
100%. You have to see and believe a lift in your head to be fully confident in your ability to attempt it. Even a bit of self doubt can negatively affect your performance.
- Your advices to beginners?
“Work like hell, you’ll get there”
I don’t know where this quote is from but I love it. This sport is very monotonous and to succeed, you have to put your head down and grind.
Trusting the process and never giving up is a huge factor as to if you’ll make it in this sport of weightlifting.
Subscribe for Kate IG - @katherineenye
Photo by @sickangles
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