Medina weightlifter Ella Nicholson sweeps world juniors in Spain

Medina High senior Ella Nicholson added to her trophy collection Wednesday at the International Weightlifting Federation World Junior Championships in Leon, Spain. Aiming to earn a spot on the United States weightlifting team for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the 18-year-old Nicholson swept the snatch, clean and jerk and combined total in the 76-kilogram weight class (167.6 pounds). Nicholson hoisted 113 kilograms (249.1 pounds) to win the snatch by a whopping 11 kilograms (24.3) and 131 kilograms (288.8) to take the clean and jerk by 1 kilogram (2.2). Her combined total of 244 kilograms (537.9) was a personal and American junior (15 to 20 years old) record. Her lift in the snatch set American junior and senior records. "I have a (trophy and medal) stand in my room at home," Nicholson said in a phone interview from Spain. "It's getting pretty full." The 5-foot-6 Nicholson, who trains at Root 18 CrossFit in Medina, is taking all her classes online through the University of Akron. Her next competition will be the IWF World Senior Championships, to be held in December in Bahrain, a country in the Middle East. She will enter with plenty of momentum. "She attacked and executed the way we planned," coach Trey Vaughan said. "She missed one clean and jerk on a technical error, but other than that she executed to perfection. We went a little bit above and beyond what I projected, but I also knew she was capable of doing what she did." A polite and personable person but also extremely competitive and driven, Nicholson was pleased with the results in Spain. "I won, so I'm happy with that," she said. "Winning is an addition to setting PRs, but I do like to win." Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4046 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @RickNoland on X.