The clank of the plates echo throughout the gym, a familiar symphony in the world of weightlifting. As junior weightlifter Parker Tchekmeian prepares to go into her next set, she feels the cold steel of the bar as you press it up with immense strength. Beads of sweat start to form as Tchekmeian attempts to muscle the bar up. With one final push, she is able to finally get the bar up, and has to repeat this as she moves onto her next lift. This feeling is a daily occurrence for Tchekmeian who sees this consistent struggle to be vital to her success.
This past summer, Tchekmeian competed at the 2024 USA Weightlifting National Championships, placing 9th. Only about 5-10% of junior weightlifters in the country are able to qualify for this event. Tchekmeian sees this as a huge accomplishment and something that will motivate her in her next lifts.
“[ This year] I achieved a main goal of mine of competing and placing high in the 2024 USAW National Championships,” Tchekmeian said. “In Dec, I will be competing in Arizona in the North American Open Finals. I am aiming for top 10 but I realize that I am still very new to this side of competitive weightlifting.”
Weightlifting coaches Amanda Dean and Harry Meyers have worked with Tchekmeian for the greater part of two years and seen her display great character and discipline both in and out of the weight room.
“She marches to her own drum and doesn’t see a limit in anything she looks to achieve, which is essential in weightlifting,” Meyers said. “She goes out of her way to be better, putting in long hours and training at a gym outside of school.”
Tchekmeian knows she has to stay patient to achieve the results she wants and knows that she will continue to prevail as a top weightlifter with time. Her biggest goal is to compete in the Olympics but she is focusing on the small aspects of her game and life in order to achieve that bigger goal.
“I’ve only been lifting with my club team for just about a year so [for now] to continue to grow as a human and an athlete just a little bit every day is the biggest and my primary focus … knowing my time is coming [soon],” Tchekmeian said.
The coaches of the weightlifting program have seen immense growth from Tchekmeian both in her individual weights and statistics. She has also stepped into a leadership role in the team. Tchekmeian transitioned from being a beginner to weight lifting to now one of the most impactful people on the team.
“[Tchekmeian] is a very valuable asset and good personality for the team, she does a great job of leading by example,” Meyers said. “She is constantly learning more and applying that to help teammates in terms of coaching and telling them what they need to work on.”
Outside of Trinity, Tchekmeian is a member of the team at a gym called Orlando Strength, where she competes in USA Weightlifting meets, looking to improve her national ranking and at some point qualify for the junior olympics.
“[At Orlando Strength] we train like a family almost,” Tchekmeian said. “In our team we have some of the best people to be around and the best athletes in all of the nation.”
Along with the many challenges Tchekmeian will face her junior year, she is taking on an even more vigorous weightlifting schedule. Tchekmeian embraces these challenges as necessary to her development and is willing to make the necessary adjustments to her schedule to make these improvements.
“Eating, drinking whatever I want are just simple tasks that people do all the time that I can’t do,” Tchekmeian said. “I also have to make sacrifices socially, like not going to football games or to other events because I have to go to training or I’m going to this competition over the week or weekend.”
Even through the toughest of challenges, such as bombing a lift or not doing as expected in a meet, Tchekmeian is able to come out on top because of her discipline, willingness to learn and the support in which she receives from her team or gives to everyone around her.
“Parker’s determination to be better and stronger every time she lifts is one of her greatest strengths,” Dean said. “[Additionally] being coachable, being able to control her emotions and the fact that Parker is also always willing to discuss lifting with anyone who will listen, allows her to be an athlete who is successful in any aspect.
