'BEST IN THE WORLD': DeLand's Mia Rhodes wins world weightlifting championships

DELAND — Best in the world.

It's a title befitting of DeLand's 17-year-old phenom Mia Rhodes after her gold rush at last month's International Weightlifting Federation's Youth World Championships in León, Mexico. Yet, it's also one she has not fully come to grips with.

"It is hard to take in. Just thinking about it — I am the best in the world. It's such a huge title and has a lot of honor," Rhodes said. "It's scary."

Competing in the 71-kilogram (156-pound) division, Rhodes — going into her senior year at DeLand High — hit all six of her competitive lifts, maxing out at 92 kilos in the snatch and 110 in the clean and jerk for a total combined weight of 202.

For good measure, Rhodes pulled off a similar sweep last week at USA Weightlifting's youth national event in Las Vegas. She improved in the snatch (94) and nearly matched her clean and jerk (109), posting a slightly higher total of 203.

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Entertaining the crowd is important to Rhodes, even if the enormity of the moment poses the biggest challenge.

This is not the first time Rhodes competed on an international platform; she placed third in snatch and fifth in total at the same event in 2021 — jetting all the way to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Spectators were not allowed to attend due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Knowing that everyone's watching, all the eyes are on you, this is the biggest stage I can possibly compete on at my age, that part is probably the scariest," Rhodes said. "That, and knowing everyone is out there gunning for you.

"Personally, I do very well under adrenaline. I love when people are watching."

Subliminally, that sense of showmanship could stem from Rhodes' background as a gymnast. She competed in meets around the state as a child, but was forced to quit the sport around the age of 10 due to a stress fracture in her lower back.

"It was hard not doing anything active; that's how I was my whole entire life," she said. "It was a reality check, my first real 'oh my gosh, life is hard' moment. It's given me a sense of work ethic."

Rhodes needed a new sport, preferably something individualistic. Swimming, tennis and CrossFit provided nothing more than fleeting satisfaction.

Then, she started lifting weights alongside teenage brother Coby, and something clicked internally.

"I had competed at nationals before she joined, but she would always keep up with me," Coby said. "I gave her an idea what to do, and she ran with it. She's capitalized on all the opportunities presented to both of us."

Brian Secrest, Rhodes' club coach for Vero Beach Weightlifting, said she possesses a unique, unstoppable blend of athleticism, technical acumen and maturity.

"She's always going to be herself. She doesn't get pulled into other things, or other crowd. She's comfortable in her own skin; a leader, not a follower. That's what separates her from everybody else," Secrest said.

"Honestly, any time someone's keeping score, she's at her best. She's able to flip that switch and turn it on."

Rhodes turned 17 last week and will now move into the under-20 Junior division. She's already registered and competed at the Junior level, Secrest said, scoring a bronze at the 2021 national meet in Detroit.

The long-term goal, Rhodes said, is competing at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. As of February, those dreams might not be possible.

Weightlifting — along with boxing and modern pentathlon — was not listed on the initial program for the 2028 Olympics. It could be added next year, assuming the sport's governing body addresses a longstanding issue of doping.

As for the short term, Rhodes wants to capture a gold medal that has eluded her — somewhat — to this point. She seeks to be crowned FHSAA state champion as a senior.

Rhodes was the Class 2A runner-up at 139 pounds during her freshman year, in addition to capturing district and regional golds. She did not compete for the Bulldogs in either of the last two seasons, focusing instead on club meets and her education.

She looks forward to lifting alongside her friends, and crossing another accomplishment off her ever-increasing list.

"She could probably set (FHSAA) records that will be there forever, definitely in the snatch and clean and jerk," Secrest said.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida high school weightlifter Mia Rhodes is 'best in the world'