Hampton Miller Morris is a highly accomplished American weightlifter who has made significant strides in the sport at a young age. Competing primarily in the men’s 61 kg weight class, Morris has garnered a series of impressive achievements, including setting world records and earning multiple gold medals in international competitions.
Morris first gained international attention by winning the gold medal in the men’s 61 kg event at the 2021 Pan American Weightlifting Championships held in Guayaquil, Ecuador. His success continued at the 2022 Junior World Weightlifting Championships in Heraklion, Greece, where he not only won gold but also set a junior world record by lifting 160 kg in the clean and jerk.
Morris has been a dominant force at the Pan American Weightlifting Championships, securing gold medals consecutively in 2021, 2022, and 2023. His performance at these events has been marked by setting and breaking junior world records in the clean and jerk, with lifts of 162 kg and 163 kg in 2022.
In 2023, Morris made history by winning the gold medal in the clean and jerk at the World Weightlifting Championships, becoming the first American to achieve this feat since 1972. This victory solidified his status as one of the top weightlifters in the world.
Morris’s most notable accomplishment came at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where he won a bronze medal in the men’s 61 kg event. This achievement was historic, as it marked the first time an American man had won an Olympic weightlifting medal in 40 years. During the competition, Morris demonstrated his resilience and skill by successfully lifting 172 kg in the clean and jerk after a slip on his first attempt. He finished the event with a total of 303 kg, narrowly missing a world record attempt.
Morris trains primarily out of his home gym in Marietta, Georgia, under the guidance of his father, who also serves as his coach. His dedication to the sport is evident in his rigorous training regimen, which has left little time for other activities. Morris has stated that weightlifting is his sole focus, even foregoing obtaining a driver’s license to dedicate more time to training.
With his impressive track record and continued dedication, Hampton Morris is poised to remain a dominant figure in weightlifting. His achievements have not only brought him personal success but have also brightened the future of USA Weightlifting, inspiring a new generation of athletes.
Morris’s journey from a promising junior athlete to an Olympic medalist underscores his exceptional talent and determination. As he continues to break records and achieve new milestones, he stands as a testament to the potential of American weightlifters on the global stage.
Hampton Miller Morris was born in the United States on February 17, 2004, and today he is 20 years old.