A 200 kg total in the women’s division is a terrific accomplishment, regardless of age or bodyweight class. It’s even more impressive when the athlete trains for only a few years to hit that number, and still even more outstanding when the athlete is in her 30s. That brings us to Angela Duvane.
 
I made Angela’s acquaintance a few years ago when she made some very kind comments about an article I wrote for Catalyst Athletics. I didn’t know who she was, but I definitely took notice when she told me she was a lifter. I asked her about her best lifts, and she tossed out a 90 kg snatch and 110 kg C&J. Those lifts will get anybody’s attention, and it’s been wonderful to watch her progress in the last few years as she works her way up the national ladder. A product of the Sacramento weightlifting scene, Angela is known for her huge lifts and huge smiles. You’ll always know who she is at a meet. She’s the one who looks like she’s having the most fun out there.
 
A top-10 finisher at the Senior National level who is about to break into the master’s ranks, Angela continues to represent Sac Town and Hassle Free Barbell at our highest national levels. Catalyst Athletics is proud 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 (if you work in addition to training), family life, what kind of sports background do you have outside of lifting, etc.
 
Hi! I’m Angela, and I’m a 34 year old, 75+ weightlifter from the Sacramento, CA area. I’ve lived within a 20 mile radius of the city my whole life. Now I live in Roseville, CA, with my wife, our four crazy cats, and a newly adopted senior Lab. I work for the State of CA as a budget analyst. Basically, I stare at spreadsheets with dollar amounts on them all day until my eyes cross. That makes it sound so boring! I actually really enjoy where I work and my colleagues. They make it worth going in every day.
 
When I was very young, I never really showed any interest in sports. I ended up going to a swim team tryout with a friend of mine when I was eight, and we discovered I was a natural in the water. I swam year-round for a few local swim clubs until I was 14. I was on the cusp of qualifying for some big national meets, but I let my friends influence me and decided that malls and sleepovers were more fun than swim practice and swim meets.
 
I had another go at swimming in Junior College when I was 20, but only swam for a semester, then tried Water Polo for a semester and pretty much hated every minute of it. I figured that was it for any sports in my life!
 
Describe your weightlifting history. When/how did you start? Who have your coaches been? What are your best lifts?

I spent my twenties trying every fad diet in existence to get skinny, but never really found an activity that I enjoyed, so they all failed and I stayed fat and unhappy. In 2011, I decided I had enough dieting and I was ready to start moving to feel better. I hired a personal trainer who pushed me to my limits and made me realize how strong I was. She taught me the snatch and clean and jerk as part of our normal routine, and I fell in love. Every day I went to see her I would ask if we could do weightlifting. Eventually, Ben Claridad, the head coach of Midtown Barbell Club (at the time), saw me lifting as asked if I would be interested in joining the team. I joined the team in August 2012. I qualified for my first Senior Nationals with Ben in 2013, where I placed 9^th.
 
The next year, life changed a little and I decided to join Hassle Free Barbell Club under the great Kevin Doherty. Kevin has since coached me through four more national events. Lifting with Hassle Free gave me the confidence to push myself to numbers I never thought were possible. I have placed top ten in all of my national meets, with a 6^th place showing this year. I am now also working with Charles Shipman, in Sacramento, who has helped me to improve technique issues I had almost given up on.
 
My current best lifts are a 92kg snatch, 113kg clean and jerk, and a 205kg total. I also front squat 140kg, and back squat 170kg.
 
Please give a basic description of your training. Just tell us as much as you can about your program, weekly/yearly planning, etc.
 
My training is primarily done during team practice, three times a week. Sometimes I do additional work on my own in my garage gym. Charles programs a 4-6 week cycle, but we also play it a lot by ear.
 
I’m a big proponent of listening to your body. If I go in and I’m absolutely not making any progress on a set, we will move on or change the programming to suit my needs for the day. I will also miss training days if my body is so beat up I can’t move the barbell. It’s important to know when your body is ready and when it’s not. At my age, I can no longer afford to push my body past the limits I could when I was younger.
 
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?
 
Most of the obstacles I face are outside of the gym. Working full time and going back to school leaves limited time and energy for weightlifting. I am looking forward to finishing school and then getting started on coaching.
 
The only thing that I wanted to see changed in the sport is the addition of another weight class for women. However, I recently heard that this change is coming! I’m hoping the addition of the new weight class means the women who are on the cusp of 75 and 75+ can settle into a higher weight class where they may not need to cut for competition. This doesn’t necessarily impact me, but I’m glad to see it happening.
 
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?
 
My current plan is to move into the Masters category next year and to hopefully remain competitive in the Senior category. I will continue to go to Senior national meets as long as I qualify for them, but I am also looking forward to making waves in the Masters world. I have my eyes set on the Masters American Records, then the Masters World Records.
 
I’m also planning on moving into coaching in the next few years. I am currently working with Charles to start honing my coaching skills, and when I’m done with school, I plan on shadowing him and other coaches in the area to learn as much as I can to be the best coach I can be. I would like to establish a youth team in the area, since that is where the future of weightlifting is.
 
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 influences in weightlifting are Kevin and Paul Doherty and Charles Shipman. They have helped me become the lifter I am today, and coached me through some pretty tough times. I can’t imagine my life without any of them in it. I can’t thank them enough for everything they have done for me. I also have to thank every training partner and teammate I’ve had throughout the years. They know who they are, and they know how much I love them!
 
You’re a part of the weightlifting family in this country, Angela. We’ll look forward to seeing what you do in the master’s division in the coming years!