When you’ve been in weightlifting for over a quarter century, you see quite a few talented young lifters come and go. Some of them get labeled as “the next big thing” because of their huge accomplishments during their junior years. Sometimes these kids rise up through the ranks and establish themselves as our top US lifters, making Olympic Teams and breaking American records. Others just fade away and everybody forgets about them.

I remember when a young kid from Florida named Danny Camargo started making some noise on the national scene back in the 90s. He had great technique, leg strength, and speed. However the quality I really remember about him was his mental ability in competition. Danny had an uncanny talent for concentrating, focusing in on the barbell, and getting his job done on the platform. It was noticeable when you watched him lift. He was a born competitor, plain and simple.

By the time he turned 20, he was already one of the best lifters in the United States. But he retired from competition early. Too early, in my opinion. If you’ve seen the American Weightlifting movie, you saw the interview where he talked about his decision to move away from his athletic career. However, there’s an interesting twist to his story. Danny’s early retirement from competition was the moment when he started his journey towards becoming one the best coaches in the US. The quick kid from Florida is now a grown man who has earned a reputation as one of the finest coaching talents in our country. The Performance Menu is honored to give you a look at his life in the sport.

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 was born in New York City but lived most of my childhood in Miami. In middle school, my family moved to Orlando, which I have called home ever since. I am a first generation Hispanic-American, born to a Colombian father and a Cuban mother. I am the middle of three children and we were all very athletic. Early in my coaching career, I became a law enforcement officer and maintained my status as a cop for nearly 13 years. I got involved with CrossFit in 2007 (at the age of 30), which was a quick and easy marriage for me. I opened a CrossFit affiliate "Altamonte CrossFit" in 2009 and still own it today. My CrossFit gym is everything CrossFit gyms are expected to be with an emphasis on Olympic weightlifting, naturally. 2 years ago, at the age of 35, having juggled duties as a police officer, coach, and gym owner, I decided to leave the badge behind. I have been strictly a gym owner and coach since and though I miss the excitement of police work, it was one of the best decisions.

Describe your weightlifting history. When/how did you start? Who were your coaches? What were your proudest accomplishments as either an athlete or coach?

Coming from an active, athletic family, I played many recreational sports but never committed to any long enough to excel, until I found Olympic weightlifting. I was 12 years when I walked into my first weight room, which was my older brother's high school (and later mine), Lake Mary High School near the Orlando area. My purpose there was to learn weight training to get stronger for football. I had always understood the game and played it well, but was just too small and weak to turn any heads. So, with my brother's recommendation, I met him after school to lift weights. On the very first day, I met a coach who would later become my mentor. It was then I was taught to Snatch and C&J. His name was Bill "Coach Mac" McDaniel, and he became my developmental coach. At the age of 16, I moved to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado where I rose to the elite level under Dragomir Ciroslan. I was a member of the United States Jr. Team until I retired at age 21, where I began coaching almost immediately. Coach Mac stood by my 9 year athletic career, but grew ill not long after I retired. He passed away three years after my retirement and I took over his club. I am still the head coach of that club to this day. I am currently 38 years old and am proud to have been a part of the weightlifting community for 26 years now.

You’ve made the transition from athlete to coach in the sport? What are the similarities and differences between those two lifestyles?

I will start by saying my transition from athlete to coach was a rude awakening, to say the least. I did not have the maturity to start coaching and I was riding on my successful athletic career only. I screwed up so many times and in ways I least expected it. That transition taught me that you don't have to be a great athlete to be a great coach. They are two different elements to the game and only the right personality can be successful. I feel being a coach is far harder. The athlete only has his/herself to focus on, whereas coaches have multiple people to focus on. I am happy to have had a wonderful athletic career, as it allowed me to empathize with my lifters, get inside their heads, and accommodate their needs in order to maximize their potential. But that's where my skill set ended. I had to learn how to prepare another person for competition from start to the moment they step foot on the big stage. As an athlete, you are in control of your own destiny, but as a coach, that control ends at the white line behind the stage. There's nothing a coach can do during those short moments before the lift; it's up to the athlete. That alone draws a level of stress that athletes don't experience. I will say that something I have found is similar between the life of an athlete and coach is the time spent vested in the game. An athlete will train one to two times a day and think about it all in between. A coach will hit the floor one to two times a day and also be thinking about it in between. The goals never end and the energy spent excelling never ends. Whether I'm in the gym or not, my mind is on the platform and what I have to do to make my athletes better.

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'll be honest; I am quite happy and thrilled with weightlifting life at the moment. I realize not every veteran coach out there feels the same way, and I respect that. They have valid concerns. I, however, see it different. I grew up in a sport that was unpopular and nobody would care about. I was THAT kid who would stay up until 3am, against parents' rule, once every four years just to catch a thirty second glimpse of Weightlifting on TV because that's the only time one could see the sport I loved during the Olympics. I'd try to record it on VHS and quality was so horrible but I didn't care. Love is love. Nowadays, catching anything you want about weightlifting is as easy as turning on your phone. That's amazing. Not only that, but I am making a living off of something that everyone around me only considered a hobby. Do I wish there was more funding for our athletes? Yes. Do I feel USAW should minimize the amount of "trials" and qualifiers for international teams? Yes. Do I think the website should be more user-friendly, especially to newcomers? Absolutely! However, I don't lose sleep over any of these issue, or other issues coaches may have, because (a) I expect with the knowledgeable and dedicated people we have in the community the proper changes will be made in time, and (b) I'm just happy to be alive during this time where the barbell is so popular and society is no longer treating this as a substandard sport. And it's only getting better. Hell yeah! It's about time. Sure the boom in popularity was too large for USAW to keep up with at first, but things are improving and, long term, everything will be running smoothly. It will just take time; time that I know I will give as I have always done, since entering the sport as a young boy.

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

I am currently a Sr. International Level Coach, the highest standard offered by USAW. For a very long time, that was my goal. With 26 years in weightlifting, as both coach and athlete behind me, my goal is to one day produce an Olympian. That would be a huge accomplishment for me. To develop someone from scratch to the world's biggest stage would be unreal and I have always dreamed of doing so. I never made it as an athlete, even though I was a U.S. Team member traveling all over the world to compete. Now, I would like to make it as a coach. As for my future in sport, I hope to continue to raise athletes of all ages teach them the way I had been taught. I, of course, add my own twist to things, which I gather is quite normal. I do believe in lineage however, and with the growth of the sport, I feel it is my duty to keep a reasonable amount of tradition alive. I am all for change and I support massive growth of the sport. We've needed it for a long time. Keeping some tradition will allow us to continue forward without ever losing sportsmanship, etiquette, and the spirit of the game. Maybe one day when I feel my energy is too low to coach, I'll make an attempt to enter to administrative side of the sport. I can't every imagine living without the barbell in some shape, form, or fashion.

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 many people who have helped me pave my way, whether they know it or not. The list is quite long because they involve family, loved ones, teachers, coaches, and other athletes. In some way, almost everyone I've come into contact has had an effect on me. None of them stand out as much as these three men however: Bill "Coach Mac" McDaniel, who was instrumental in teaching me the spirit of the sport and ethics. Much of my coaching philosophies come from him. Dragomir Ciorslan, who was so vital in mental toughness and understanding when to push an athlete vs. when to back off. Much of my programming, cues, and vocal approach to training come from him. Bob Morris, who was the assistant OTC Coach during my time as a resident athlete, was so influential in teaching me patience and fortitude. All the restraint and control I practice as a coach, especially when athletes are difficult to manage, comes from working with him for nearly 3.5 years.

I knew Coach Mac, Danny. I can promise you he’s up in heaven smiling down on the work you’re doing in our sport. Best wishes to you, as you continue producing champions for the United States.