Dialled-In w/ Tom Wright

Spoiler alert: he qualified.

Weightlifter Tom Wright is twenty. Freakishly strong. Hungry. The kind of athlete you can’t scroll past, can’t ignore. Every time he touches the bar, it’s another PB. And yet he’s already thinking bigger.

When we called, he was mid-taper for British Champs. Which, in Tom’s world, still meant snatching 120kg. Light work, apparently. We caught up with him on his ambitions, how his head works, and what it takes to stay locked in this early on the path.

Here’s how the call went down.

Jordan: Big Tom, how's it going mate?
Tom: Yeah man, all really good.

Jordan: So how's training been recently? I feel like every time I see you, you’re hitting a new PB or lifting something ridiculous.
Tom: To be honest, the thing that’s really changed for me is seeing people that lift so much heavier than me. It sounds funny because people keep telling me, “oh but you PB so often.” I just say to them the same thing; there are people a lot stronger than me, and that gives me confidence to lift heavier and heavier.

Jordan: Yeah, just the product of your environment, eh?
Tom: Yeah man, exactly that.

Jordan: So what’s next then?
Tom: I’ve got British Champs on Saturday, and I need to qualify for World Champs. I’m about a kilo off my total to get the Commonwealth Games total too, so hopefully, if all goes well, I’ll get World Champs and Commonwealth Games.

Jordan: Mate, that’s unreal. And you’re still so young, aren’t you? What are you, 20?
Tom: 20, yeah.
Jordan: Oh my god.

Tom: To be honest, for me, it just comes down to the work you put in. If you’re focused and doing enough, there’s no reason why you can’t be with the best. I just want to keep focusing on being better than yesterday every session.

Jordan: So, any other endeavours for you besides weightlifting, or is it full focus right now?
Tom: It has to be full focus. When I used to do CrossFit, I was trying to do everything all at once, and you can never reach heights if you do that. We’ll see what can be done after.

Jordan: Well listen, I appreciate you taking the time to speak to me mid-session. I’m guessing it’s an easy one today, seeing as you’re tapering for British Champs.
Tom: Just a light one today, mate. Taper week.

Jordan: Alright mate, well I’ll catch you soon. Best of luck for this weekend, yeah?
Tom: Appreciate it, man. Take care.

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