Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Elizabeth Lawson

Art and sport have gone hand-in-hand for Elizabeth Lawson. The senior is enrolled in Sarasota High's Circus Arts Magnet Program, but on Jan. 24, she stepped away from the tent and into the gym. She brought home gold in both styles of the 169-pound weight class at the FHSAA Class 3A-District 11 girls weightlifting championship. By lifting a total of 330 pounds in Traditional and 255 in Olympic, she completed a perfect sweep. Lawson is the Sarasota Athlete of the Week.

How was your experience at districts and what did you take away from it?

It was definitely a really good meet. I went up a weight class from last year, so that was a good experience — to get a new group of girls to compete against. I really wasn't expecting to place in Olympic at all because I don't snatch very much. My strengths are definitely in clean and jerk and bench. So that was a nice surprise.

What are you hoping to accomplish at regionals?

I'm hoping to get top-three, but what happens, happens. I'm up against a really good group of girls, and I'm just honored to be able to compete against them. It's really cool to watch people who are better than me compete. It's just amazing to see.

How did you get into this sport?

I started doing flying trapeze down in Venice, where I used to live, and I wanted to get stronger for trapeze. So I found weightlifting — a couple of my friends introduced me to it. And from there, I became so passionate about it, and it's become my sport.

How do your skills in circus arts translate to weightlifting?

The weightlifting side definitely helps in being stronger for circus. But the more technical sides of circus — like the little muscles we use just pointing our toes or straightening our legs — that really helps in the super technical side of weightlifting and the tiny movements that are involved with that. Mobility, too. I've gotten a lot more flexible with both.

Why have you stuck with weightlifting after all these years?

It has such a good community around it. It's such a good group of girls. Yes, we're a team, but it's also a self-competing sport. You're competing against yourself, but you have that team backing you up and supporting you and cheering you on. And not just your team — anybody from any school is always cheering you on and hoping that you hit your lift and do your best.

What highlight or moment from your career have you never forgotten?

Last year, when I had sprained my ankle really bad, I was in a boot. I got to districts and it was my first time back lifting. I placed first at districts and I went up on the podium wearing my boot, because I couldn't walk on it, but I had lifted on it and placed first. That was super exciting and a really big accomplishment for me.

What quote or piece of advice have you always carried with you?

"Be persistent." Don't give up if you're chasing something you really want.

If you could meet any professional athlete, who would it be and why?

Olivia Reeves. She won gold in the most recent weightlifting Olympics. She's just a beast, she's insane. I can't even imagine lifting that much weight, and I just want to know how it feels. I think it would be amazing to talk to her.

What's something unique about you that not a lot of people know?

I'm pretty crafty. I like to do a lot of arts and crafts, which I don't get to participate in at school — I'm always so busy. But on the weekends, catch me at the craft table.

Finish this sentence. Elizabeth Lawson is...

Determined.