Where are they now?
Local Olympian writes autobiography
Carol Brimm
When Shane Hamman began lifting weights during his junior year at Mustang High School he had no idea how far his past time would take him or the impact it would have on his life. Hamman retired from competition last year and holds the world record in power lifting, is a two time U.S. Olympian, holds the record for winning the most consecutive weight lifting National Championships and is the “strongest guy on this continent”, which he says is “kind of a cool thing”.
Hamman says although he didn’t grow up on a farm, he did grow up working on one. He credits that experience with starting him on his weight lifting career.
“I grew up picking watermelons, cantaloupes and pumpkins and working in my dad’s fruit stand at the farmers market. It taught me not to be afraid of hard work. That was a big start, picking all those melons and pumpkins. I was really strong and when you’re good at something you want to pursue it and see how far you can go,” he said.
Hamman began power lifting when he was 18, spending time working out at the gym during his junior and senior years of high school. He entered his first competition in 1991, a year after graduating from MHS, and broke all teenage records. He says he knew then that he had to get serious after that.
In 1996 he watched the Olympics and Olympic weight lifting seemed like an opportunity to make something happen, so he switched from power lifting to weight lifting. He worked his way through the system, winning 9 National Championships in a row from 1997 to 2005. He made the U.S. Olympic team in 2000 and again in 2004. Although he didn’t win any medals in the Olympics, he did place 10th in Sydney, Australia in 2000 and 7th in Athens, Greece in 2004. That was the first time America had placed in the top 10, Hamman says, because weight lifting is the national sport in eastern European block countries and they begin training at a very young age.
Hamman has lifted 435 pounds in Snatch, 523 pounds in Clean and Jerk, and earned the world record in power lifting in 1996 for lifting 1,008 pounds in Squat competition. Since his retirement from competition last year, Hamman travels around the country speaking at high schools and middle schools about character education for a non-profit organization called Rachel’s Challenge.
The organization was founded by the father of Rachel Scott, the first person killed in the shooting at Columbine High School. Hamman worked with Mr. Scott to develop the program and was it’s national spokesman in 2001. He says the program focuses on teaching kids about kindness and compassion and the need to treat people right.
“We are trying to prevent Columbine from happening again,” Hamman said. “The boys from Columbine were picked on and made fun of. If you accept everyone and don’t bully, there is no reason for that to ever happen again. It’s all about small acts of kindness.”
Hamman says Mustang Superintendent Karl Springer has asked him to speak at Mustang schools this year and he is trying to work at least the high school into his schedule this year.
“I’m happy to have a job where I can make a difference in this world,” Hamman said. “Lifting let’s me grab the kids attention and keep it throughout the program. You never know where you’re going to end up after high school; you just have to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way. You never know what you can do till you try.”
Hamman certainly never expected to travel the world and represent the U.S. in the Olympics when he graduated from MHS, and he certainly never expected to be writing a book about his life, but that is exactly what he is doing now. He signed a contract with Tate Publishing on Tuesday to publish his as yet untitled autobiography. It will cover his life to this point, he says.
Hamman, who is single and still lives in Mustang, says he was so focused on weight lifting before that he never took the time to find the right girl, and now he is ready to settle down and raise a family in his hometown. His parents, Joe and Carol Hamman, and two brothers, Lonnie and Jason and their families all live in Mustang as well.
“This is where I’m from, my hometown,” Hamman said. “Even when I lived and trained in Colorado Springs for 7 years, it was a beautiful place, but Mustang is where my roots are. I’ve seen lots of big cities in my travels and it’s nice to be from Mustang, a place that’s laid back with no traffic jams.
Local Olympian writes autobiography
Carol Brimm
When Shane Hamman began lifting weights during his junior year at Mustang High School he had no idea how far his past time would take him or the impact it would have on his life. Hamman retired from competition last year and holds the world record in power lifting, is a two time U.S. Olympian, holds the record for winning the most consecutive weight lifting National Championships and is the “strongest guy on this continent”, which he says is “kind of a cool thing”.
Hamman says although he didn’t grow up on a farm, he did grow up working on one. He credits that experience with starting him on his weight lifting career.
“I grew up picking watermelons, cantaloupes and pumpkins and working in my dad’s fruit stand at the farmers market. It taught me not to be afraid of hard work. That was a big start, picking all those melons and pumpkins. I was really strong and when you’re good at something you want to pursue it and see how far you can go,” he said.
Hamman began power lifting when he was 18, spending time working out at the gym during his junior and senior years of high school. He entered his first competition in 1991, a year after graduating from MHS, and broke all teenage records. He says he knew then that he had to get serious after that.
In 1996 he watched the Olympics and Olympic weight lifting seemed like an opportunity to make something happen, so he switched from power lifting to weight lifting. He worked his way through the system, winning 9 National Championships in a row from 1997 to 2005. He made the U.S. Olympic team in 2000 and again in 2004. Although he didn’t win any medals in the Olympics, he did place 10th in Sydney, Australia in 2000 and 7th in Athens, Greece in 2004. That was the first time America had placed in the top 10, Hamman says, because weight lifting is the national sport in eastern European block countries and they begin training at a very young age.
Hamman has lifted 435 pounds in Snatch, 523 pounds in Clean and Jerk, and earned the world record in power lifting in 1996 for lifting 1,008 pounds in Squat competition. Since his retirement from competition last year, Hamman travels around the country speaking at high schools and middle schools about character education for a non-profit organization called Rachel’s Challenge.
The organization was founded by the father of Rachel Scott, the first person killed in the shooting at Columbine High School. Hamman worked with Mr. Scott to develop the program and was it’s national spokesman in 2001. He says the program focuses on teaching kids about kindness and compassion and the need to treat people right.
“We are trying to prevent Columbine from happening again,” Hamman said. “The boys from Columbine were picked on and made fun of. If you accept everyone and don’t bully, there is no reason for that to ever happen again. It’s all about small acts of kindness.”
Hamman says Mustang Superintendent Karl Springer has asked him to speak at Mustang schools this year and he is trying to work at least the high school into his schedule this year.
“I’m happy to have a job where I can make a difference in this world,” Hamman said. “Lifting let’s me grab the kids attention and keep it throughout the program. You never know where you’re going to end up after high school; you just have to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way. You never know what you can do till you try.”
Hamman certainly never expected to travel the world and represent the U.S. in the Olympics when he graduated from MHS, and he certainly never expected to be writing a book about his life, but that is exactly what he is doing now. He signed a contract with Tate Publishing on Tuesday to publish his as yet untitled autobiography. It will cover his life to this point, he says.
Hamman, who is single and still lives in Mustang, says he was so focused on weight lifting before that he never took the time to find the right girl, and now he is ready to settle down and raise a family in his hometown. His parents, Joe and Carol Hamman, and two brothers, Lonnie and Jason and their families all live in Mustang as well.
“This is where I’m from, my hometown,” Hamman said. “Even when I lived and trained in Colorado Springs for 7 years, it was a beautiful place, but Mustang is where my roots are. I’ve seen lots of big cities in my travels and it’s nice to be from Mustang, a place that’s laid back with no traffic jams.
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