Heavy metal: U.S. weightlifting trials in Atlanta

Sports

Photos from the U.S. Olympic Weightlifting Trials at Atlanta's Georgia Tech are Friday and Saturday at the Ferst Center for the Arts. The three-round elimination is Friday from 11 am to 3 pm and 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm, and Saturday from noon to 4 pm. Duluth resident Caleb Williams and Georgia Tech student Chandler Alford will compete.

Shannon Sheesley, from East Point, makes her first lift at the USA Weightlifting Olympic Team Trials at Georgia Tech's Ferst Center for the Arts at on Friday. The country's top 60 weightlifters - 30 men and 30 women - were invited to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.

Caleb William of Duluth puts on his game face while chalking up before his third lift on Friday. Winners of the competition will represent the USA at the Summer Games in China.

A barbell with 77 kg slips from the shoulders of Megan Kranz during one of her lifts on Friday but she manages to recompose and lift the weight.

William lifts 137 Kg over his head. The weightlifting event is divided into three sessions over two days.

Jenna Bussard of Savannah hoists lifts 121 kg in Friday's first session at Georgia Tech. Saturday's competition is from noon to 4 p.m. at the Ferst Center for the Arts.

Nghiep Dinh screams as he fails to lift 141Kg on Friday.

Bussard gets a pat on the back from her coach Henry Meyers before the last lift.

A happy Sheesley (center) hugs friends Jessica Botts (right) and Kathy Wilkinson after finishing her lifts.

But it didn't go well for everybody. Kyle Cook, of Yorkville, Ill., holds on to the bar after he fails to lift 176 Kg.

The first group of women weightlifters stands at attention for the Pledge of Allegiance. Winners will compete in the Beijing Summer Olympics in August. The event continues through Saturday morning.

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Shannon Sheesley, from East Point, makes her first lift at the USA Weightlifting Olympic Team Trials at Georgia Tech's Ferst Center for the Arts at on Friday. The country's top 60 weightlifters - 30 men and 30 women - were invited to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.

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