Hampton Morris Snaps 40-Year Medal Drought for American Men in Weightlifting

The Marietta, Ga. native is already a star at 20.

Apr 16, 2024; New York, New York, USA; U.S. Olympic athlete Hampton Morris poses for a photo at the USOC Media Summit in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Mariott Marquis. / Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

The last time an American man won a medal in weightlifting, Hampton Morris of Marietta, Ga. had not been born yet.

The United States's most recent medal came all the way back in 1984, when Guy Carlton won a heavyweight bronze and Mario Martinez won a super heavyweight silver in Los Angeles. Morris's birth came 20 years later, in 2004, by which time American men were already riding a 20-year dry spell.

On Wednesday, however, the drought came to an end. Morris captured a bronze medal in the men's 61-kilogram event, posting a score of 298 kilograms to edge out Malaysia's Aniq Kasdan by one kilogram.

One for the history books ✍️@HamptonMorris2 is the first U.S. man to win an Olympic medal in weightlifting since 1984!#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/ghFh0Om24D

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 7, 2024

Li Fabin of China took the gold medal, while Theerapong Silachai of Thailand grabbed silver.

Morris, 20, has already accrued a full trophy case in his young career. He has won a silver medal at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup and three golds at the Pan American Games.