It’s been a known fact for years that gymnastics is a great recruiting area for Olympic weightlifters. Several of our top US female lifters are former gymnasts. I’ve always been a big believer that wrestling was probably full of lightweight men who could step into weightlifting and have a lot of success, if you could ever get them away from wrestling.
 
Brian Reisenauer is an interesting blend of both backgrounds. He’s a former gymnast who found his main athletic talent in wrestling during his school years, becoming a state champion in high school and competing at the collegiate level. After his days on the mat were over, he came into weightlifting through the pathway that now sounds like a broken record. He started CrossFit, and then decided to enter a weightlifting meet. Over the last ten years, the majority of our top US competitors were funneled into the sport through the exact same pipeline.
 
However, Brian’s success has not been ordinary. After only a few years on the platform, he has already risen to the top of the lightweight classes (formerly a 56 kg lifter, now competing at 61 kg), winning multiple medals at the National Championship and qualifying for the 2017 World Championship. He’s a tough competitor who finds joy in fierce battles, and his potential for future progress is tremendous. Catalyst Athletics is honored to share his story with you.
 
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 originally from Fargo, North Dakota. I did my undergraduate degree at Minnesota State University – Mankato where I wrestled and got my degree in Psychology and Pre-Law. I moved back to Fargo where I worked at an inpatient psychiatric facility at night and got my Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology. After completing my Master’s Degree, I moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where I am currently completing my Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology.
 
My family is simple. I have my parents, who still reside in Fargo. No siblings, but I am close with aunts and uncles, as well as my grandparents, some of which live in Phoenix as well, so I can see them on occasion.
 
My sports background is a bit of everything. I played all sorts of sports when I was a child, but two sports really shined through once I got older. I was a gymnast, starting at age three, and excelled in that sport for many years until my coach moved away. My best moment was placing second on floor at the Junior Olympics in my particular level. My other sport that dominated most of my athletic career was wresting. I started wrestling at the age of five and it quickly took over much of my life. I did many national competitions in middle school and junior high. In high school, I won two state championships as well as All-American status in all three styles of wrestling including second place at nationals, and fifth place in an international competition in Germany. I continued to wrestle in college, wrestling for MSU-Mankato, where I was a member of their National Championship team as well as a few other accomplishments. After college, I tried to make the Olympic team in 2012, but landed short of my goal and retired from wrestling. After a few years of retirement, I took up CrossFit, which eventually introduced me to Olympic Weightlifting.
 
Describe your weightlifting history. When/how did you start? Who have your coaches been? What are your proudest accomplishments?
 
As stated before, I was introduced to weightlifting through CrossFit. I did several competitions in CrossFit, but my competitive nature did not like losing. My frustration showed to the owner of the CrossFit box I went to, and she recommended a weightlifting competition. My first competition I went by myself with just my girlfriend to watch in the stands. I did not know what counting attempts meant, how to warm up properly, or even how a competition ran. I just knew when they called my name I would go and lift, that was my whole plan. I managed to hit the exact total needed qualify for the 2014 American Open Finals. It was at the American Open Finals that I met my current coach, Vinh Huynh. He was gracious enough to help me, since I clearly did not know what I was doing, and I joined him right then and there. It meant a lot to me that he wanted to help and saw potential in me before anyone else.
 
I have many accomplishments in weightlifting that I am proud of earning. It is difficult to say which ones are my proudest, so I will comment on the most fun I have had. Both of the most fun competitions I have been a part of, I took second. See a trend happening? Nationals 2017, when Michael Fox and I went head to head for the championship was one of the most exciting and fun competitions I have been a part of. The other was 2018 American Open Series 3 that just happened. Competing with Darrel Barnes was a ton of fun and we got to challenge each other a bit going back and forth. That is what I think makes weightlifting fun and exciting.
 
As a coach, I am also much prouder of my athletes’ accomplishments than I am of my own. The excitement on their faces when they make a tough lift on the platform is what makes it all worth it and all I feel is pride in their accomplishments.
 
Please give a basic description of your training method. Just tell us as much as you can about your program, weekly/yearly planning, etc.
 
My program usually consists of three blocks in four-week cycles. It usually consists of nine sessions a week. I work high intensity often, and will likely have several daily maxes each day. Initially the blocks will concentrate on building strength, positions, and technique, and will build towards a more Bulgarian-like cycle near the end and closer to competition.
   
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?
 
There are many obstacles and frustrations that I have in my weightlifting life. First, I wish I had all day every day to commit to this sport. With school and everything that comes with it, I have to squeeze my sessions in when I can and sometimes that can be stressful, which never helps. Secondly, my athletic age feels like 100 years old. Wrestling did a number on my body and my joints, something that just cannot be repaired in some respects, which creates constant frustration.
 
There are several changes that I’d love to see in the sport. First, I think Phil and USA Weightlifting have made awesome improvements in the sport, even in the short time I have been a part of it. Having said that, I’d love to see a team aspect to weightlifting that required filling an entire team with each weight class filled. I think that would be a great change to the sport that could create some new and fun strategic dynamics to the sport.
 
What are your plans and goals for your weightlifting career? How do you see your future in the sport?
 
My goals are to possibly qualify to make a few more international teams. Also, I look forward to the other aspect of weightlifting. My coaching career is getting started and I love that part of weightlifting. My athletes I have now make it tons of fun to coach and be a part of the weightlifting community that I am very excited for the future.
 
Who are some of your major influences, people you look up to, etc.? Who are the people you want to thank for your success?
 
This is a very tough question. Every step that I have taken for years has led to the success I have experienced in this sport as well as my life. My parents have been great about helping me succeed, both athletically and academically. My dad was my coach for most of my life in wrestling and has always emphasized the importance of learning and school. He used to say, “You can’t wrestle forever.” The more I do sports, the more my body tells me he was right. I have to thank Vinh and Travis, who have brought me through every stage of weightlifting I have been in and continue to keep pushing me forward. I also have to thank Jessica Grondahl and Jeremy Donais for encouraging me to go to my first weightlifting competition 4 years ago. There are so many others that have supported me throughout the years, it would take my forever to name everyone.
 
From the mat to the platform, we’re proud of what you’ve done and looking forward to seeing your progress in the next few years. Best of luck, Brian!