Athlete of the Week: Elijah Blackmon

Elijah Blackmon, a senior at Windermere High School, recently achieved a personal record of 260 pounds in the clean and jerk. The record came during the last meet of the regular season for the Wolverines, which ended with a score of 9-0. Blackmon reached another personal record Monday, March 28, hitting 270 pounds on the clean and jerk category. On April 1, at the district meet held at West Orange High, Blackmon was crowned district champion in the snatch category and earned second place for the clean and jerk. 

What got you into weightlifting?
I’ve been lifting weights since I was in seventh grade — that’s when I got my first weight set. It’s easy to compete when you already know how to weigh lift so I kind of just stuck with it. Coach (Eric) Olson is the best weightlifting coach I’ve ever had, and it shows. 

When did you join the team?
I joined my freshman year after football season. 

What’s your favorite weightlifting category?
Clean and jerk.

What do you love about the sport? 
Any time I am feeling bad emotions, like pain or anger, I can take it out when I’m weightlifting, and I feel like that helps me get the weight off. It releases a lot of stress for me. 

What’s the best thing about your team this year?
We’re like a big family. When it comes to competing in each weightlifting group, we are very strong competitors and that’s part of our success to be honest. 

What’s a fun thing about being on the weightlifting team?
The energy. We all just compete, we have the same drive for weightlifting so it’s fun to be around (the team). 

What’s your favorite singer? 
I don’t think I have one.

Favorite super hero? 
Deadpool — he’s very funny. 

What’s your favorite Marvel movie? 
It’s going to be Deadpool, as well.

Star Wars or Lord of the Rings? 
I’m going to have to go with Lord of the Rings. When they did The Hobbit, I was a huge fan. 

What’s your favorite hobby?
I like to play piano. I’ve been playing piano since I was in sixth grade. 

Favorite composer? 
Chopin.

What Netflix series are you watching now? 
I don’t really watch Netflix.

Best vacation place so far?
It’s probably when I went to South Carolina like the islands. That’s probably the best vacation place I’ve been.

If you could have a superpower, which one would it be? 
Teleportation. 

Favorite ice cream flavor?
Banana pudding. 

What do you want to study in college? 
Computer science. 

Where are you going to college? 
Kentucky Christian University.

Any rituals you guys do as a team before a meet? 
We go out and share a meal together. That’s how we bond.