BELMONT, Calif. – Notre Dame de Namur alumni and former women's soccer player
Morghan King earned a trip to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics as a representative of the United States in weightlifting.She will be one of three women representing Team USA in Brazil in August.
King, a midfielder from Redmond, Washington appeared in 65 games from 2004-07 graduated from NDNU in 2008. She scored five career goals, four of which came as a junior in 2006 and added three assists.
King took up weightlifting just three and a half years ago and quickly made a name for herself, attending every international competition. She has competed in three world championships, two Pan-American Championships, a China Grand Prix and the Pan Am Games.
"When I started weightlifting I wanted to be top five in the nation for 53K class," King told the Redmond Reporter. "After I continued to do well and make more international teams, I realized that the Olympics were truly attainable."
King took advantage of her opportunity in early May when she qualified for the 48 kg (106 lbs) division at the Olympic Trials in Salt Lake City. At the trials, she lifted an 80.0 kg (176 lbs) snatch and 100.0 kg (220 lbs) clean and 180 kg (397 lbs) jerk which was a personal best. The Trials overlapped with the National Championships which made King's the US National Champion for her weight class.
In speaking with the Redmond Reporter, King said she will compete pretty early in the Olympics and she's excited to get down there, get situated and find her bearings a bit since it's going to be crazy in the village. She said she is looking to be the first American female to medal in weightlifting in more than 10 years. That being said, King is very proud of the hard work and accomplishments that have helped her to making it on the Olympic team.
"I'm really looking forward to closing ceremonies to celebrate the crazy accomplishment that I just experienced," King said.
The 48 kg weightlifting event will take place on August 6
th Riocentro Pavilion 2 in Rio de Janeiro.