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University of Texas Weightlifting member Brie Gomez has been selected to represent TEAM USA at two separate international competitions later this year. Brie will travel to Montevideo, Uruguay to take part in the Ibero-American Championships in late August, and then to Mérida, Mexico for the FISU America Games, where she will compete against the top collegiate weightlifters across the Americas!
Brie joined the UT weightlifting team in the fall of 2018, her first semester on the University of Texas campus. While never having competed in the sport of weightlifting prior, Brie had familiarity with the olympic lifts through Crossfit and worked hard to successfully qualify for University National Championships her freshman year.
In her sophomore year, Brie qualified for both University National Championships and Junior National Championships. She earned two silvers and a bronze medal in the 59kg weight class at 2020 Junior Nationals and was invited to the 2020 Junior Pan-American Qualifier. While ultimately not selected to represent TEAM USA at that competition, a confidence was instilled that there would be more opportunities in Brie's future.
2020 Junior Nationals - Silver (Total, Snatch, Clean & Jerk)
Brie's junior year was one of resilience, overcoming a wrist injury suffered at the American Open Finals, where Brie became the first University of Texas weightlifter to represent her school at a senior level competition. Having to spend most of the next few months rehabilitating that injury, Brie finished just off the podium at University Nationals that year, taking fourth in the snatch, clean & jerk, and total in the 59kg class. Brie continued to rebuild and that summer she snagged a silver medal in the snatch at Under 25 National Championships.
2021 Under 25 Championships - Silver (Snatch)
Brie used the rest of the summer before her senior year to build the necessary muscle and strength to move from the 59kg weight class to the 64kg weight class. At the 2022 University National Championships, Brie put together an all-time personal best performance to take second place across the board in the 64kg class and earn All-American honors. Her standout performance at that event also placed her on two international TEAM USA teams, to compete at the Ibero-American Championships and the FISU America Games.
2022 University National Championships - Silver (Total, Snatch, Clean & Jerk), All-American Honors
The money raised during this crowdfunding event will go to support the airfare, lodging, and competition fees associated with Brie's participation in these two competitions. While we don't yet have an itemized expense list for these two trips, an estimated $10,000 will be needed to fully fund all athlete and coaching fees incurred from this travel. The giving levels detailed to the right can explain how Brie was able to get to this point, from generous donations of all levels.
Any money raised in excess of the exact amount of the trip cost will become part of the International Team Fund, which will support future international competitive opportunities for University of Texas Weightlifting members.
When Brie was getting started in weightlifting as a freshman, a donation of $50 would have paid for her annual USA Weightlifting membership!
As Brie prepared to compete at the Junior National Championships in Pleasanton, CA her sophomore year, a donation of $100 would have paid for her national meet entry fee!
During Brie's junior year, the team traveled to Detroit to compete at the Under 25 National Championships. A donation of $250 would have covered her airfare to that event!
Lodging tends to be one of the most expensive elements of national team travel. A donation of $500 during Brie's senior year would have made a significant dent in the team's lodging expenses in Columbus, Ohio, where Brie qualified for TEAM USA at the University National Championships!
Brie's international debut will feature a trip to southern South America, which will feature steep airfare prices. A donation of $1000 would nearly cover that expense entirely!
