Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

American Weightlifting

  • 20132013
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
91
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
American Weightlifting (2013)
Ultra-independent - a one person production start to finish - American Weightlifting is a feature-length documentary film about the Olympic sport of weightlifting in the US. While wildly popular internationally, in the US, weightlifting is an obscure sport with virtually no financial, media or social support. Weightlifters and their coaches struggle to find ways to support the extremely demanding and time-consuming training regimens required for success in the sport while having to work jobs and train in poor conditions, while their international competition often train full-time with financial support and the intense interest of the media and population, and often questionable drug-testing policies.

The movie is about the hard work and dedication of these coaches and athletes to developing individual lifters and the sport as a whole, and their perseverance in the face of the daunting challenge of competing with the rest of the world.
Play trailer3:22
1 Video
1 Photo
  • Documentary
  • Biography
  • History

Ultra-independent - a one person production start to finish - this movie looks at the passion and dedication of American athletes and coaches in the Olympic sport of weightlifting. The sport... Read allUltra-independent - a one person production start to finish - this movie looks at the passion and dedication of American athletes and coaches in the Olympic sport of weightlifting. The sport is extremely popular internationally, but obscure and struggling in the US, where athlete... Read allUltra-independent - a one person production start to finish - this movie looks at the passion and dedication of American athletes and coaches in the Olympic sport of weightlifting. The sport is extremely popular internationally, but obscure and struggling in the US, where athletes and coaches must train as amateurs with virtually no support, yet compete professional i... Read all

IMDb RATING
8.3/10
91
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Greg Everett
  • Writer
    • Greg Everett(story)
  • Stars
    • Mike Burgener
    • Danny Camargo
    • Kevin Doherty
Top credits
  • Director
    • Greg Everett
  • Writer
    • Greg Everett(story)
  • Stars
    • Mike Burgener
    • Danny Camargo
    • Kevin Doherty
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    American Weightlifting Trailer
    Trailer 3:22
    American Weightlifting Trailer

    Photos

    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mike Burgener
    Danny Camargo
    Kevin Doherty
    Paul Doherty
    Greg Everett
    Jim Schmitz
    Bob Takano
    John Thrush
    • Director
      • Greg Everett
    • Writer
      • Greg Everett(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    Ultra-independent - a one person production start to finish - this movie looks at the passion and dedication of American athletes and coaches in the Olympic sport of weightlifting. The sport is extremely popular internationally, but obscure and struggling in the US, where athletes and coaches must train as amateurs with virtually no support, yet compete professional international counterparts. It's not just the story of a sport, but of the human spirit and the struggles and incredible dedication and hope of a small community of people despite the odds against them. —Anonymous
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Documentary
      • Biography
      • History
      • Sport
    • Certificate
      • Unrated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    User reviews7

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    The Story of a Wild Love Affair
    "American Weightlifting: The Documentary" is the two-hour story of a 'wild love affair' shared by a select group of insanely dedicated athletes.

    The first hour chronicles the domestic history of the sport, bringing us forward in time and revealing the current state of affairs in the sport. Interviews with veteran coaches are back dropped by a montage of athletes rituals, and an intriguing piano score, impressively composed by Mr. Everett.

    If you were not previously enamored with Olympic Weightlifting, the first hour of "American Weightlifting" might feel like a slow-moving Kickstarter campaign. I sincerely hope you do not quit watching early.

    Suddenly, as if the film were given a rousing halftime speech from Coach Carter (Gene Hackman in Hoosiers), rock & roll music kicks in, and your blood starts pumping.

    The second hour answers all of your questions. "Why am I watching this? What does it take be a weightlifter? Why should I love this? What is the purpose of this film?"

    These answers are illustrated in the fears, pressures, hardships, successes, and failures that athletes and coaches alike must endure. The strategies and nuances of competition are brought forth. You learn about what it's like to train for years, only to be judged in twenty seconds for all of your hard work. You feel the sheer joy of what it's like to succeed in that moment, watching athlete and coach unable to contain themselves in celebration.

    Emotions run high and deep. Coaches describe how they 'refuse to die' before they accomplish the elusive goal of sending an American athlete to the Olympics. In the most poignant moment of the film, Aimee Everett gives us raw honesty that inspires.

    Perhaps most importantly, you see that young high school kids will form waiting lists to participate in these programs, and why not? The Presidential fitness test of a mile run, sit- ups, and pull-ups in most PE classes is as popular as VHS tapes. There is a place for this sport among our youth, if we make it for them.

    The film finishes strong and ties together the history from the first hour seamlessly in the second. You'll think to yourself, "Ah, now I know why all those stories are meaningful."

    "American Weightlifting" is not about raising money for the sport, even though the need for money is mentioned throughout. Greg explicitly tells you why weightlifters don't need benefactors. He just wants you to watch the film, and decide if you are in, or if you are out.

    So do I. In his first film, Greg Everett has done a masterful job. The film is powerful and moving. The images and stories connect. Every athlete, parent, and coach needs to watch it.

    Greg Everett and I are not friends. We have never met. I do buy all of his books, and follow his weightlifting programs. I am a fan, but I am also an objective writer. I was not paid for this review. I do not do curls.
    helpful•0
    0
    • matt-865-982517
    • Dec 8, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 2013 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    American Weightlifting (2013)
    Top Gap
    By what name was American Weightlifting (2013) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.