Plates rattle, lifters stretch, as junior Max Ferrera reaches for the bar. Using the leftover residue of chalk on his hands, he steadies himself and begins to lift. Trusting his technique, he goes through every mechanic with one goal: to beat his personal record.
Weightlifting, often referred to as Olympic lifting at the Austin Barbell Gym, has grown in popularity in the Austin, Texas area. Founded in 2017, the club offers individual coaching and competition-based training. According to founder and head coach Rob Ronan, the program provides a way to bring athletes together to learn proper lifting techniques and become stronger.
“Austin Barbell operates as a true barbell club, not a commercial gym. We’re organized around coached training sessions led by certified Olympic weightlifting coaches,” Ronan said. “Each athlete belongs to a structured roster, typically grouped by training level. This structure keeps programming individualized while maintaining a team training environment.”
Ferrera began lifting at Austin Barbell in seventh grade, and for the past five years, he has continued to focus on growing and improving. He enjoys the positive atmosphere and the way peers work together to motivate and push each other towards achieving new goals.
“The gym is actually very supportive and a great environment,” Ferrera said. “I find the community really encouraging because the gym is smaller and more personalized.”
Gym members range from high school students learning how to properly hold barbells to experienced lifters in their twenties who are focused on pushing themselves to the limit. Despite the two very different experience levels, Ferrera often takes time to listen and learn new tips and techniques from other experienced lifters.
“There are mostly young adults ranging from like twenty to forty, so the environment is a little different compared to a high school club, but I find it valuable because you get real-world experience and advice,” Ferrera said. “It’s a super supportive community, and I often get people who approach me after a lift and give me insight on what I’ve done wrong.”
Ferrera began lifting at Austin Barbell in seventh grade, and for the past five years, he has continued to focus on growing and improving. Junior Jordan Garner, claims that throughout the years of their friendship, Ferrera has inspired him because he balances the gym, relationships, and being top of his class.
“He manages to find time to help others and still improve himself,” said Garner. “It’s insane, and watching him makes me more motivated to keep pushing myself.”
According to the Strength and Conditioning Journal, athletes who participate in weight training have a significantly lower injury rate of 26.2 percent compared to 72.4 percent of those who do not. Ferrera, who also plays basketball, found that training helps him gain strength and avoid injuries during the season.
“I find that Olympic lifting is very rewarding because the technique is challenging, and once I’ve completed my sets, I feel accomplished,” Ferrera said. “Having a coach guide me and push me helps me fix my form and prevent injuries.”
In addition to staying healthy and safe, he focuses on setting goals and pushing himself to place at nationals. In hopes of being consistent and improving, he follows a workout regimen consisting of three main Olympic lifts with added accessories that target different muscles each training session.
“I usually train three to four times a week to keep consistent,” Ferrera said. “My workouts are through an app that tells me what exercises to do and how many sets and reps to complete.”
Ronan explains that competitions, which are primarily Olympic lifts like snatch and the clean and jerk, work by allowing athletes three attempts at each lift to achieve their personal best.
“Competitions are high-energy but structured. Each athlete gets three attempts in the snatch and three in the clean and jerk,” Ronan said. “Our coaches manage the clock and cues while athletes focus on execution. It’s intense, like chess with barbells, but our team keeps it supportive. Everyone cheers for everyone, no matter the skill level, whether you’re going for your first meet or a national total.”
Despite the many challenges Ferrera faces with balancing school, extracurriculars, and family, he continues to focus on his lifting goals, including competing at both state and nationals.
“I luckily haven’t faced any injuries, but my biggest challenge is keeping up with school and all of the other extracurriculars I’m a part of,” Ferrera said. “It takes a lot of time management and organization, but lifting has taught me to push through when things get difficult.”
