Metro Detroit resident Katherine Nye wins silver in women’s 76 kg weightlifting event at Olympics

DETROIT – Katherine Nye, 22, delivered the best performance for an American weightlifter at the Olympics in over two decades Sunday, winning a silver medal in the women’s 76 kg/156 lbs. category at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

On Sunday, USA Weightlifting Tweeted, “Katherine Nye is the first American woman to win SILVER at the #OlympicGames!! Her 249kg total earns her a spot on the #Tokyo2020 podium!! Congratulations, Kate!!”

Nye is from Metro Detroit. The Berkley resident started out with dreams of becoming a gymnast. Nye first took up weightlifting as a teenager through CrossFit training after spending 11 years as a gymnast. She eventually became a part of the USA Weightlifting Team.

Details: Berkley’s Katherine Nye reflects on her unusual journey to Tokyo Games

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Nye lifted a personal-best total of 249 kg (549 lbs.) between a 111 kg (245 lbs.) snatch and a 138 kg (304 lbs.) clean & jerk, also a PB. She placed behind only Ecuador’s Neisi Dajomes, who won her country’s first weightlifting medal of any color, a gold with a 263 kg (580 lbs.) total.

Nye is the first American to win silver or better in weightlifting at the Olympics since Tara Nott lifted to 48 kg/ 106 lbs. gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

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