POWERLIFTER PREPARES FOR AAU WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
09/03/2015
Written by: Originally posted on grandlakenews.com by Dannie Oliveaux COMMERCE — They say, “Dynamite comes in small packages.” That’s certainly true of Damiyah Smith. Damiyah, a fourth-grader, is preparing for the 2015 AAU World championship set Sept. 26-27 in Las Vegas. Each morning, the 9-year-old girl spends about an hour training and lifting weights. That’s ...
Written by: 
COMMERCE — They say, “Dynamite comes in small packages.”
That’s certainly true of Damiyah Smith.
Damiyah, a fourth-grader, is preparing for the 2015 AAU World championship set Sept. 26-27 in Las Vegas.
Each morning, the 9-year-old girl spends about an hour training and lifting weights.
That’s not a problem for Damiyah. Her parents, Jason and Kristenee Smith, own House of Steel in downtown Commerce. Her mother also competes in fitness competitions.
“We’re hoping she will bring home four goal medals and set four more world records,” her father said.
Damiyah advanced to the world championship after her record-setting performances at the 2015 AAU Junior Olympic Games in Hampton Roads, Virginia. earlier this month.
Besides bringing home a gold medal, she set four new records in the bench, deadlift, squat and total overall in the 77-pound weight class for 8-9 year olds in the female raw world classification.
Her records include 100.3 pounds in the squat, 134.5 in the deadlift and 283.3 for the total overall weight which included 55 in the bench press.
The old record in the overall was 242 — about 40 pounds under Damiyah’s mark.
“I really like the competition,” said Damiyah.
Damiyah first powerlifting competition was in May at the Oklahoma AAU State Powerlifting Championships. She set state records in the squat (100), bench (55), deadlift (135) for a 290 total.
Damiyah started lifting weight when she was eight years old, according to her father.
“I started lifting weights with my parents and I just fell into it,” she said.
When Damiyah is not powerlifting, she has plenty of activities to keep her busy. She tumbles, plays basketball and softball, and is a cheerleader.
She also enjoys playing the ukulele and singing.
Her father feels if she is successful at powerlifting, it will open up doors in the future.
“Powerlifting can open up doors in education such as a scholarship for college for her,” Jason said.
Damiyah said her future plans include competing in the Olympics as a powerlifter, attending law school to become an attorney and someday being a judge.
Damiyah’s advice to other young girls who want to start powerlifting is they should first “ask their parents.”
“If they plan to powerlift, they will have to be dedicated to it,” Damiyah said.
She is sponsored by several businesses – Your Hometown Agency, First State Bank in Commerce, Jordan Disposal and Crawford’s Collision Center.
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