Twenty years ago, if you interviewed high-level Olympic weightlifters and asked them about their background, they were probably going to tell you they played a different sport when they were young, and then got seriously into weightlifting afterwards.
 
Caitlin Hogan comes to us through that process, with her gateway sports being ice hockey and CrossFit. Like all athletic kids who grow up in northern cold-weather states, Caitlin learned to skate and played hockey practically from the time she was born, eventually completing a collegiate career in the sport before quickly rising through the competitive ranks of CrossFit. And as we see happening more and more frequently these days, she migrated from CrossFit to full-time competitive Olympic weightlifting.
 
However, most of the CrossFitters who switch to weightlifting don’t win the National Championship within a year and a half, like Caitlin did in 2016. In the blink of an eye, she has graduated up to the top of the national ranking list and has the potential to become one of Team USA’s international competitors in the coming years. She trains in California under the guidance of coach Sean Waxman, a long-time friend of mine who was one of my toughest competitors back in the 90s when we were on the national scene.
 
From the chilly air of Minnesota to the sunny skies of California, Caitlin plows forward in her athletic quest as a weightlifter. She just happens to be moving up the ladder much quicker than most people. Catalyst Athletics is proud to give you a look at the life of National Champion Caitlin Hogan.
 
Tell us about your background. Where are you from, where do you currently live, what’s your occupation (if you work in addition to training), family life, what kind of sports background do you have outside of lifting, etc.
 
I was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. Being from the frozen tundra that is Minnesota, I learned how to ice skate at a very young age. I took to the sport of ice hockey at the age of four and never really looked back. I played every sport you can imagine throughout my youth but ice hockey was my real passion. I earned a scholarship from St. Cloud State University to play at the Division I level. After graduating in 2010, I packed up my car and headed west hoping to find an employment opportunity in a little warmer climate. I have been in Southern California ever since. I currently live in Long Beach, California with my girlfriend, Cassie, and our dog, Max. Aside from training, I co-own and operate a strength and conditioning gym in Long Beach called GYM NO.4.
 
Describe your weightlifting history. When/how did you start? Who have your coaches been? What championships and international teams do you have on your record? What are your best lifts?
 
When I turned 14, I finally realized that I wasn't really growing any more. I decided that in order to be successful at the collegiate level for ice hockey, I needed to get stronger. One of the P.E. teachers at my high school showed me the hang snatch and the hang clean to help improve speed and develop strength. When I got to college, I was surprised to see that we were using these same lifts in our training program. Upon graduation, I was a bit lost in terms of what I needed to do to stay fit. I had always been training for something. In comes CrossFit. When I moved to California, I started coaching and training at a local CrossFit before work on a daily basis. My training became more serious and I started coaching for a career in the summer of 2013. I made it to Regionals in 2014 and 2015. Learning up to Regionals in 2015, I finally sought the help of a seasoned weightlifting professional, Sean Waxman at Waxman’s Gym, to help improve my lifts. He convinced me to give weightlifting a try after I completed my Regional quest. In June of 2015, I made the switch from CrossFitter to Olympic Weightlifting and it’s been a whirlwind ever since.
 
I competed in the 2015 National Championships as a 53kg (cutting from 60kg as a CrossFitter) and got 1st place in the Snatch, 2nd place in the Clean and Jerk, and placed 2nd place overall by bodyweight. The total I got at Nationals put me in a place to qualify as an alternate on the 2015 World Team Roster. Throughout the year, I competed in a couple small local competitions as I prepared for the 2016 National Championships in Salt Lake City. I placed 2nd in the Snatch, 1st in the Clean and Jerk, and 1st place Overall with a 182 total, taking home the 2016 National Championship in the 53kg weight class. This new total put me in a position to lift for Team USA at the 2016 Pan American Championships in Cartegena, Columbia where I put up a 180 total and placed 6th in my weight class.
 
Please give a basic description of your training. Just tell us as much as you can about your program, weekly/yearly planning, etc.
 
Being that I’m so new in the sport, we have spent a majority of my training time focused on general technique. I usually train five to six days a week for about one to three hours at a time depending on the intensity of the day. This past year, I made it a point to get more experience on the platform. Having Nationals be my first big competition, I was not quite ready for the stillness and isolated feeling of a meet. Being more accustomed to the energy of team sports and the energy of CrossFit, the quiet was unnerving to me. I’ve since found my rhythm and find comfort in the silence rather than fear. This year, we will focus on adding more strength and repetition to my regimen.
 
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?
 
The individual nature of the sport is very unnatural to me. I have always trained and performed in a team environment. A loss was never placed on one person and a win was always achieved as a team. Weightlifting is different. It’s you and the bar. If you miss a lift, it’s on you. If you make a lift, it’s on you. It’s refreshing and terrifying all at once. I think this is the thing that I have had to adapt to most. I have a very strong mind and a will to succeed, but taking all the focus from a room full of people was daunting to me. It’s a skill that has to be practiced. I get more comfortable with it every opportunity I’m on the platform.
 
What are your plans and goals for your weightlifting career? How do you see your future in the sport? Do you plan to stay involved in weightlifting after your top competitive years are over?
 
I honestly just want to see how good I can get in this sport. Wherever that takes me, I’m happy. I know I have so much room to grow in regards to strength and experience. With each workout and each training phase, I learn something about my own lifts that I’m able to incorporate in my coaching. The continual learning makes the sport fun and interesting to me. After my competition days are done, I plan on sharing my learning with others through coaching at my gym and holding seminars to spread the knowledge I’ve learned throughout my career.
 
Who are some of your major influences, people you look up to, etc.? Who are the people you want to thank for your success?
 
My major influence in life has always been my dad. Growing up, my dad would take me to every practice, every scrimmage, and every game. He allowed me to play simply for the love of the playing. He always encouraged me to work my hardest and regardless of the result, I would still be proud of my effort. He and my mom have always been my biggest fans and continue to support me through my weightlifting career as well.
 
Sean has been a great coach for me throughout this process. He saw talent in me that I had no idea I had. He’s had my back through some rough moments and has allowed me to continually focus on training as he takes care of politics. He keeps a chill demeanor throughout my training and allows me the space and freedom I need to thrive.
 
I also really want to thank my girlfriend, Cassie, for not only encouraging me to go to Waxman’s in the first place but for being my rock during this crazy year. She deals with my hectic training schedule, my travel, my aches and pains, my competition anxiety, and my hangry attitude during weight cuts. She keeps me level headed, focused, and motivated to be my best. I really wouldn’t be able to push as hard as I do if it weren’t for her.
 
Stay focused and motivated, Caitlin. You’ve got unlimited potential in this business, and the weightlifting community of the United States looks forward to watching your progress!