Whenever I ask a weightlifter what their current goals are and they answer with, “to improve the quality of each lift,” I become a fan. That’s one of my favorite lines from this interview with Danielle Hudes.
 
Once again, we have another outstanding up-and-coming American weightlifter who came from CrossFit. Danielle has established herself as one of the top competitors in the 69 kg class over the last couple of years, finishing with silver medals at the 2016 and 2017 National Championships and representing Team USA at the World University Championships in Taipei this year with a 6^th place finish and a 207-kg total. Competing for East Coast Gold and coached by my old friend Mike McKenna, Danielle has already become a force on the national scene with plenty of potential for the future.
 
But the thing I like most about her story is the personal battle she’s had to fight in the sport. Like all weightlifters, Danielle has had to work hard to develop the proper competitive mentality of confidence and focus when she’s on the platform. We all come to this sport with the same need to master our minds, and it’s encouraging when we read interviews like this one, reminding us that one of the best weightlifters in the United States is working on the same internal struggle as the rest of us. Fortunately for US weightlifting, she’s winning the battle and making progress. The Performance Menu is honored to give you a look at her life.
 
Tell us about your background. Where are you from, where do you currently live, what’s your occupation, family life, what kind of sports background do you have outside of lifting, etc.
 
I am from Medford, New Jersey and I currently live in Seattle, Washington. I am a weightlifter full-time, and I am a veterinary assistant part-time. I live with my girlfriend Laura, our two dogs, and two guinea pigs. I did all kinds of sports growing up, but I ran track pretty competitively as a kid. I played soccer through high school, but I was never very good. I was most competitive in the 800m in track and field, which ultimately led me to stop because it is the worst event ever and I was tired of it.
 
Describe your weightlifting history. When/how did you start? Who have your coaches been? What are your proudest accomplishments?
 
I found weightlifting through CrossFit, like so many others have in the recent past. I basically just realized I really liked lifting and I only wanted to do lifting, and it went from there. I liked the challenge of weightlifting. It felt like a sport when CrossFit felt like challenging exercise. Weightlifting seemed ‘darker’ and required more commitment, and that’s what drew me to it. I wanted to be pushed like that. I have been with my coach Mike McKenna since I have been weightlifting on the national stage. Mike is a very special person. What really drew me to him in the beginning and the reason I trust and love him so much is that he values the growth of one’s self as a whole. It’s about all of the pieces - not just physical strength and capability but also mental well-being and balance.
 
Mike has been there through everything, and I am so proud and grateful to be on this journey with him. I met Mike at a local meet, and at the time my great friend Jerry Walsh had been taking the role as coach for me. Amber Sheppard was my coach at my very first meet ever. Mike and I have always worked remotely, so there are a lot of people to thank for helping me in the flesh too. Since being in Seattle, I have had help from Dean Kruse, Rachel Churchward, and Mike Nackoul. It’s taken a village, and I have been fortunate to grab bits from so many people that have helped me along the way.
 
I am most proud of being able to represent the USA at the 2017 World University Games just a few weeks ago. While I’d love to say that I have accomplished more things internationally and nationally, I have committed to the process and I have been reminded many times that weightlifting has a lot of lessons to teach and it takes a really long time. Wearing a USA singlet and competing on an international stage was some really great fun, and made me even hungrier for bigger meets. I am also proud of that meet because I had competed poorly in the last two national meets I went to. That takes a shot at your confidence and being able to just let it go and get after lifts and hit a couple of competition PRs was a big deal for me! I had the most fun competing that I ever have had. I also raised funds for the meet with the help of my girlfriend and her mom, and I was so proud and honored to learn how many people wanted to help support me and believed in what I was doing.
 
Please give a basic description of your training method. Just tell us as much as you can about your program, weekly/yearly planning, etc.
 
I train nine times per week, currently at Chalk and Metal Barbell Club in Seattle. I train remotely away from my coach, and that has its challenges. I write down everything I do, every make and miss, and send it to Mike when I finish training for the week. Generally at the beginning of a cycle, we do a lot of volume and a lot of complex work. Lots of positions, lots of repetitions, lots of general prep work. There will often be a focus on one lift a day here, and it is probably the most challenging time of the program physically. As we get further into a program, there will still be lots of volume, but more focused weightlifting movements. More singles and doubles, but lots of them. With a few weeks to a month left, we will do almost only competition movements and squats. We always have a large, long-term general plan. Mike knows all of that stuff, and I don't worry about it too much. If anything, I know it changes, because everything changes. 
 
Describe some of the obstacles you face, or maybe some things that frustrate you in your weightlifting life. What kinds of changes would you like to see, either personally or with the sport in general?
 
I am changing and growing up, and that alone has challenged me. When I began with Mike, I was in a very difficult place in my life. I deal with mental illness, and I have to do a lot of work to maintain my well-being. As I became healthier, my weightlifting took off. None of that is linear, though, and I have been challenged many times to pull through and survive training and competition despite it. I have been frustrated by some of my national performances, when I have felt like I've done everything I could, and come time to put it together, it just didn't happen. I have learned so many lessons that way. No conditions will be perfect. It is okay to feel pressure AND it is my job to perform anyway. I have struggled to believe in myself and my abilities and it has shown. It’s all a learning opportunity, and that is the positive material I am able to pull from those experiences. The sport is changing in so many positive ways, be it the competition on a national level, our presence internationally, or our amazing CEO. The change I’d like to make happen is owning my place up there on the stage, enjoying myself, and believing. 
 
What are your plans and goals for your weightlifting career? How do you see your future in the sport? 
 
My goal for weightlifting is simple, and it is to take it as far as I possibly can. I believe I have a lot more in me; I have a long way to go and heavier bars to lift, so I plan on doing that. I’d like to be making teams and to become internationally competitive. My current training goals are to improve the quality of each lift, but also to fight harder and be grittier and go after anything that’s put on the bar. I plan to train with everything in me and just go as far as I can go.
 
Who are some of your major influences, people you look up to, etc.? Who are the people you want to thank for your success? 
 
As competitive as weightlifting is, I have found that there are so many good people in the sport that want to see you do well. A few of the many people I admire that are currently in the sport are Morghan King, Mattie Rogers, and Caitlin Hogan. Morghan is a friend of mine. She is so supportive and helpful to other lifters. She has taken many risks to commit to weightlifting, to be the best she can be, and I admire that so much. Mattie is in my weight class. She has truly raised the bar and challenged all of us below her to get better. On top of it all, she is so kind, and it's awesome. Caitlin is the definition of grit. She makes her lifts, she owns her place on the platform, and she seems to be unstoppable. 
 
There are so many people to thank for my success in life and my ability to do weightlifting; I don't even know where to begin. My parents and sister that support every single insane thing I want to do with 300 percent of my being, my girlfriend Laura for believing in me and trusting me, my coach Mike and his wife Sally for loving and supporting me unconditionally, my awesome massage therapist Leah Kangas, all of my friends and family that have supported me in many more ways than just one, the list goes on and on. I can't do life and I definitely can't do weightlifting without help, and I feel so, so lucky to have so many amazing people on my side. 
 
And they’re lucky to work with you, Danielle. Keep fighting the good fight, and we’ll all have fun watching you lift bigger and bigger weights in the future!