Starting this weekend, Olympic City USA is hosting Olympic-level competition with the national weightlifting championships. 

The 2026 National Championships Week, one of USA Weightlifting’s premier competitions, will be held at Ed Robson Arena on the campus of Colorado College from June 20-28. The weeklong event includes senior, junior, U25, and youth competition, and is one of four USA Weightlifting national events this year. 

This is the second year in a row that National Championships Week will be held at Ed Robson Arena. 

This year’s field includes Olivia Reeves, who became the first American weightlifter in 24 years to win Olympic gold in Paris (71 kg). She is now one of just two U.S. women to win gold, joining Tara Nott Cunningham (2000). 

Reeves holds six world records across senior and junior age groups, 20 American records, and has won 11 gold medals for the United States. The Tennessee native swept gold at the 2025 and 2026 Senior Pan American Championships.

“We don’t train together as a team very often, so I’m excited to go to these meets and catch up with athletes and coaches,” Reeves, 23, said. “I’ve been in it almost 10 years now, so I get to see the actual impression that other athletes and I are making on the sport.”

This will be Reeve’s first competition in Colorado Springs. She will compete June 27 at 4 p.m.

Reeves is part of an emerging U.S. women’s team that won the 2025 Senior World Championships over top contenders China and North Korea. Reeves hopes the U.S. women’s dominance on the international stage encourages young girls to try strength-based sports. Reeves grew up in a CrossFit gym owned by her parents. 

“The narrative is changing,” Reeves said. “It is possible that being strong and capable becomes more of the norm, regardless of shape or size.”

The national championship is one of the last chances for athletes to be considered for the United States’ world championship team in November, which is the first step in the Los Angeles 2028 qualification. The top eight athletes after nationals, regardless of weight class, make the world team. 

Another intriguing athlete on the women’s team is Ella Nicholson, 19, who was a gold medalist at the 2024 and 2025 Junior World Championships and holds seven American records across senior, junior, and youth levels. The Ohio native will be competing in the 86 kg weight class on June 27. 

Weightlifting competitions like Championship Week in Colorado Springs create an opportunity for vocal support between athletes in a sport with a community that is closely bonded despite not training together. 

“We are a group of individuals, all chasing something unique in one setting,” U.S. weightlifter Kolbi Ferguson said. “It’s so beautiful to see. All types of jobs, people are spending their hard-earned money to get there. Like a family in a sense. There is no hate.” 

Ferguson, who earned a silver medal at the 2026 Senior Pan American Championships and was part of the 2024 world team, will not be competing in Colorado Springs but will be on hand to support his teammates. 

With a No. 1 ranking, Reeves’ spot on the world team is secure, and she is looking to just have fun at nationals. That mindset is something she has perfected since competing at 12-years-old. 

“I’m looking to do this as long as I enjoy it,” Reeves said. “The Olympic medal gives me lots of momentum and brings some growth to the sport, but ultimately, I’m trying to get as strong as I can. I love competing and training, and feel fortunate that this gets to be my job.”

A day pass for the event is $20 or $100 for the week and can be purchased here: https://www.usaweightlifting.org/tickets