- Melanie Roach
-
Medal record Women's Weightlifting Competitor for the 
United StatesPan American Games Bronze 2007 Rio de Janeiro 53 kg Melanie Roach (born December 15, 1974 in The Dalles, Oregon) is an Olympic weightlifter for the United States. She lives in Bonney Lake, Washington where she owns Roach Gymnastics, Inc.
During high school, Melanie participated in gymnastics, but dislocated her shoulder. After reconstructive surgery, she slowly became interested in weightlifting. She started training in 1994 once meeting coach John Thrush at Calpian Weightlifting Club. By 1998 she was number one in the US, and set the world record, since bested, for the women's clean & jerk by lifting more than twice her weight, 113kg/250lbs. She is 5'2" and 117 lbs.
Three weeks before the US Olympic Trials in 2000, she herniated a disc in her back, and became an alternate. She then focused on starting a family with husband Dan Roach, who is currently serving his fourth term as a Republican in the Washington House of Representatives from the 31st District.[1] Dan is the son of Pam Roach, who is serving her fifth term as a Washington State Senator. Melanie and Dan now have three children, one of whom was diagnosed with autism at the age of two; she is now a member of Athletes Against Autism. She then started training again in 2005, made it past the Olympic Trials, and into the 2008 Summer Olympics. There, she lifted 83 kg in the snatch, a new personal record, 110 kg in the clean & jerk, and a total of 193 kg, a new personal and American record. She placed 6th out of 9.
Roach is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.[2]
Weightlifting achievements
- Gold Medalist in US Nationals (1998-2000, 2003, 2006-2008)[3]
- Participant in World Weightlifting Championships (1998)[3]
- 13th Place in World Weightlifting Championships (1999)[3]
- 12th Place in World Weightlifting Championships (2006)[3][4]
- 12th Place in World Weightlifting Championships (2007)[3][4]
- Bronze Medalist in Pan Am Championships (2006)[5]
- Bronze Medalist in Pan Am Games (2007)
- 6th Place in Olympic Games (2008)[4]
References
- ^ Washington House Republicans Roach: Biography, Washington House Republicans. Accessed November 11, 2008.
- ^ Mormon Times, August 25th, 2008
- ^ a b c d e 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics | Melanie Roach Competition Results & Scores | NBC Olympics, NBC. Accessed August 9, 2008.
- ^ a b c "ROACH Melanie". International Weightlifting Federation. http://www.iwf.net/results/results_athlete_e.php?compid=1154.
- ^ 2006 Pan American Championships - Weightlifting Exchange, Weightlifting Exchange. Accessed August 9, 2008.
External links
- Melanieroach.com
- M. Roach snatching 78 kg (172 lb)
- M. Roach after snatching 78 kg (172 lb)
- Melanie Roach at Weightlifting Exchange
Categories:- 1974 births
- Living people
- People from The Dalles, Oregon
- American Latter Day Saints
- American weightlifters
- Olympic weightlifters of the United States
- Weightlifters at the 2007 Pan American Games
- Weightlifters at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- American weightlifting biography stubs
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