Aria has been steadily emerging as one of our top US talents over the last few years. In 2018, she became World University Champion in the 69 kg class with an 88 kg snatch and 116 kg clean and jerk. In 2019, she won the San Diego International Championship, moving up to the 76 kg class and hitting a 93 kg snatch and 113 kg clean and jerk.

And just recently, she scored a dominating victory at the 2020 American Open Series 1 competition in the Arnold Classic, going six-for-six and crushing a 98 kg snatch and 121 kg clean and jerk. It was a stellar breakthrough performance for this fast-rising star.

Like many of our elite athletes, Aria is juggling a hectic life of school, work, and training. Her daily schedule would put most people in the hospital, but her progress simply continues as she works her way up the ladder of Team USA. She was gracious enough to share her story with us, and we’re honored to give you a look at her life and career.

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. 

 Hi, everyone! I’m Aria Bremner. I was born and raised just north of Charlotte, NC, in a little town called Davidson, and I live there now. I just finished up my Master’s Degree in Business Administration and currently work at a CrossFit gym (CrossFit 77) coaching and managing their social media platforms. I also work as an assistant buyer at a local women’s activewear boutique in Davidson called Well Kept. In the rest of my free time, I coach high school cheerleading and train! Outside of lifting, I come from a cheerleading background. I started competitive cheer when I was around seven and cheered all the way through college. I think being a cheerleader really has helped me as an athlete in the sport of weightlifting.

Describe your weightlifting history. When/how did you start? Who have your coaches been? What are your proudest accomplishments?

After I graduated college and stopped cheerleading, I knew I needed to do some sort of competitive activity. I found CrossFit and competed there for a few years. I also competed in the Grid League as more of a strength specialist. Through both CrossFit and Grid, I fell into the sport of weightlifting and never turned back! I met my coach, Dan Rose, in 2015 and after a few months, he had me qualifying for my first American Open in Reno. I have worked with Dan and been a part of the Harrisburg Weightlifting Club since. Over the course of these past five years, my proudest accomplishment has to be making the University World Team in 2018 and becoming a University World Champion.

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 training method is a mostly periodized one. Generally, we will only focus on peaking a few times a year but try to compete often for more platform experience. Each week typically looks a little different either in movements or percentages based on what we are working towards. We also really try to focus on hammering down my weak spots with consistent accessory work and drills.

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?

My obstacles are probably pretty common among athletes who juggle school, work, life. I feel like I struggle most with making sure I am getting enough sleep. I am one who loves to be busy, but realize I have to be at work at 6am but may not be able to start training until 6:30pm that night. I also am very hard on myself and tend to be a perfectionist, so I have had to work on my mental game a lot as the weights have gotten heavier. Bombing out, missing big lifts, and sometimes feeling stagnant are all things I have had to overcome recently. It’s frustrating because one day you can feel so strong and the next day the bar feels heavy! In terms of changes, I would like to see an improvement in myself with my confidence on the platform and my ability to not think too much about what has happened in training when I’m headed into competition day.

What are your plans and goals for your weightlifting career? How do you see your future in the sport?

I plan to compete in weightlifting as long as I can! I may not be able to train or compete at a high level forever, but the sport has such a special place in my life that I do not see myself ever giving it up completely. In the near future, I would like to see myself among the top lifters on Team USA. I know I have work to do, but I do not think it is out of my reach.

Who are some of your major influences, people you look up to, etc.? Who are the people you want to thank for your success?

There are so many great weightlifters out there to learn from. I really admire Jenny Arthur as an athlete. I think that she is very humble but shows up big every time on the platform. She is also such a technical and consistent lifter and I really look up to that.

In my short time as a competitive weightlifter, I would love to thank my coach Dan and all my teammates at Harrisburg Weightlifting Club. It is such a special place and a family like no other. Also, I would like to thank my family and friends for being so supportive and always being my biggest cheerleaders even when they might not totally understand weightlifting! Without my coach, gym, friends, and family, I wouldn’t have been able to get through many training sessions!

You’re going to have many more cheerleaders in the future, Aria. Catalyst Athletics wishes you the best of luck in your training!