Weightlifting Runs Through His Veins.
Weightlifting Runs Through His Veins.
Daniel Camargo
By: Lauryn Lax
Daniel Camargo and Olympic Weightlifting go hand in hand like Rich Froning and
By: Lauryn Lax
Daniel Camargo and Olympic Weightlifting go hand in hand like Rich Froning and
CrossFit.
Carmago, a US International Coach, based out of Orlando, Florida has been involved
as a competitive athlete in the sport since he was 12-years old. He competed at the
elite level from age 16 to 21, as a resident athlete at the United States Olympic
Training Center (1994-1998), before retiring into coaching at the State, National and
International level.
Today, Camargo, 37, trains both competitive Weightlifting and CrossFit athletes at
the both the National and International levels and has the official title of U.S.
International Coach.
This weekend, he will be making an appearance as a coach at the American Open
Championships in Washington D.C., featuring the best weightlifters in the country.
“This year is significant because qualifications to enter have become harder. There is
a selection process unlike any other year. I am blessed to have had 7 of my own
make it into it,” Camargo said.
As a leader as an athlete and coach in the sport of weightlifting, Camargo’s personal
resume speaks for itself boasts accolades, including: Breaking three Jr. American
Records; Best Snatch 152.5kg (335lbs) & Best C+J 180kg (396lbs); Competing at 3 Jr.
World Championships ('95, '96, '97); and Competing in a total of 9 international
competitions representing the United States.
FloElite wanted to know more about the man behind some of the top athletes at this
weekend’s American Open Championships here:
Q. You have quite the ‘highlights’ resume on your website—tell us what some
of your most memorable highlights are and why.
A. As an athlete, the most memorable highlight was competing on the world’s
biggest stages. At one of them, the 1997 Junior World Championships I set a new
Junior American record in the snatch and doing so at the most prestigious
international tournament was a thrill. As a coach, the most memorable highlight is
attaining the title of US International Coach as there are not many in the United
States.
Q. You’ve also become not only a name as an athlete, but a coach as well. Tell
me how this came about?
A. As a coach passionate about a sport that was once unpopular, it’s in my blood to
help anyone who wants to learn. I was doing so when I would rarely get a phone call
and, now, that weightlifting has so much attention, the phone calls are nearly
overwhelming. I still stay true to who I am, I set out to coach any weightlifter,
CrossFitter and coach who asks. Recently those calls have come from advanced
weightlifters, Regional and Games CrossFit athletes, as well as coaches who have
access to many athletes.
Q. What is your coaching philosophy for this sport and how did you develop
this philosophy?
A. My philosophy cannot be answered in a sentence or with just a single word as it is
multi-level. But I can summarize by saying nothing done in training counts unless it
can be done a competition setting in front of judges against others who are testing
you.
Q. What is your role in the evolving sport of CrossFit?
A. I was exposed to CrossFit in 2007 and it was a quick and easy marriage for me.
The following year I obtained my Level 1 and after spending time learning the
methodology and practicing I opened an affiliate in 2009 (Altamonte CrossFit). To
this day, I remain affiliated and I am happy to say my gym has thrived in CrossFit
and Olympic Weightlifting and my gym is active in competitions.
Q. As a coach, how do you take your athletes from good to great?
A. By getting inside their heads and knowing them well enough to push them when
they can, to console them when they need it and encourage them at the right times.
Q. Everyone needs a coach; who is your coach?
A. I developed my philosophies from coaching athletes in the manner it was done to
me. I never realized the importance of these philosophies until I had to apply them
to others. I take my managing and relationship-building skills from my first coach
and mentor Bill “Coach Mac” McDaniel. I take my program and technical skills from
my advanced coach Dragomir Cioroslan.
Q. What are your current goals for this year?
A. My goals for the upcoming year is to increase membership in my gym (as any gym
owner would like), to again coach at both regionals and the games, to add one extra
person from my gym on the US Team and to once again be selected as the head
coach of a US International Team.
Q. When you are not weightlifting/coaching, you are _____
A. Sleeping.