Melanie Roach
Encyclopedia
Melanie Roach is an Olympic
weightlifter for the United States
. She lives in Bonney Lake, Washington
where she owns Roach Gymnastics, Inc.
During high school, Melanie participated in gymnastics, but dislocated her shoulder. After reconstructive surgery, she slowly became interested in weightlifting. She started training in 1994 once meeting coach John Thrush at Calpian Weightlifting Club. By 1998 she was number one in the US, and set the world record, since bested, for the women's clean & jerk
by lifting more than twice her weight, 113kg/250lbs. She is 5'2" and 117 lbs.
Three weeks before the US Olympic Trials in 2000, she herniated a disc in her back, and became an alternate. She then focused on starting a family with husband Dan Roach, who is currently serving his fourth term as a Republican
in the Washington House of Representatives
from the 31st District. Dan is the son of Pam Roach
, who is serving her fifth term as a Washington State Senator
. Melanie and Dan now have three children, one of whom was diagnosed with autism
at the age of two; she is now a member of Athletes Against Autism
. She then started training again in 2005, made it past the Olympic Trials, and into the 2008 Summer Olympics
. There, she lifted 83 kg in the snatch, a new personal record, 110 kg in the clean & jerk, and a total of 193 kg, a new personal and American record. She placed 6th out of 9.
Roach is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
weightlifter for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She lives in Bonney Lake, Washington
Bonney Lake, Washington
Bonney Lake is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 17,374 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bonney Lake is located at ....
where she owns Roach Gymnastics, Inc.
During high school, Melanie participated in gymnastics, but dislocated her shoulder. After reconstructive surgery, she slowly became interested in weightlifting. She started training in 1994 once meeting coach John Thrush at Calpian Weightlifting Club. By 1998 she was number one in the US, and set the world record, since bested, for the women's clean & jerk
Clean and jerk
The clean and jerk is one of the two Olympic weightlifting events .The clean portion of the lift refers to the lifter explosively pulling the weight from the floor to a racked position across deltoids and clavicles...
by lifting more than twice her weight, 113kg/250lbs. She is 5'2" and 117 lbs.
Three weeks before the US Olympic Trials in 2000, she herniated a disc in her back, and became an alternate. She then focused on starting a family with husband Dan Roach, who is currently serving his fourth term as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in the Washington House of Representatives
Washington House of Representatives
The Washington House of Representatives is the lower house of the Washington State Legislature, the legislature of the U.S. State of Washington. It is composed of 98 Representatives from 49 districts, each of which elects two members. All members of the House are elected to a two-year term without...
from the 31st District. Dan is the son of Pam Roach
Pam Roach
Pam Roach is an American Republican politician and a Washington State Senator representing the 31st district.-Personal:Senator Roach and her husband, Jim, have been married for 33 years. They have five grown children, one of whom is a member of the Washington House of Representatives...
, who is serving her fifth term as a Washington State Senator
Washington State Senate
The Washington State Senate is the upper house of the Washington State Legislature. The body consists of 49 senators, each representing a district with a population of nearly 120,000. The State Senate meets at the Legislative Building in Olympia....
. Melanie and Dan now have three children, one of whom was diagnosed with autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
at the age of two; she is now a member of Athletes Against Autism
Athletes Against Autism
Athletes Against Autism is a nonprofit organization founded by NHL players Olaf Kolzig, Byron Dafoe, and Scott Mellanby. It is led by athletes personally touched by autism who are raising awareness and funds for research, treatment, and education...
. She then started training again in 2005, made it past the Olympic Trials, and into the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
. There, she lifted 83 kg in the snatch, a new personal record, 110 kg in the clean & jerk, and a total of 193 kg, a new personal and American record. She placed 6th out of 9.
Roach is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Weightlifting achievements
- Gold Medalist in US Nationals (1998-2000, 2003, 2006-2008)
- Participant in World Weightlifting Championships (1998)1998 World Weightlifting ChampionshipsThe 1998 World Weightlifting Championships were held in Lahti, Finland from November 10 to November 15, 1998. In the men's tournament there were a total number of 210 athletes competing, while there were 122 women in action from 35 nations.-Men:...
- 13th Place in World Weightlifting Championships (1999)1999 World Weightlifting ChampionshipsThe 1999 World Weightlifting Championships were held in Athens, Greece from November 21 to November 28, 1999. The 70th edition of the men’s world championships and 13th edition of the women’s world championships were designated by the International Weightlifting Federation as the main qualifying...
- 12th Place in World Weightlifting Championships (2006)2006 World Weightlifting ChampionshipsThe 2006 World Weightlifting Championships were held at the Handball Pavilion and Weightlifting Pavilion Dr. José Joaquín Puello in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic...
- 12th Place in World Weightlifting Championships (2007)2007 World Weightlifting ChampionshipsThe Royal World Weightlifting Championships 2007 were held at the 700th Anniversary Sports Complex in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The event took place from September 17 to September 26, 2007.-Men:-Women:-Medal table:...
- Bronze Medalist in Pan Am Championships (2006)
- Bronze Medalist in Pan Am Games (2007)2007 Pan American GamesThe 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to July 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic Committees competed in 332 events in 34 sports and in...
- 6th Place in Olympic Games2008 Summer OlympicsThe 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
(2008)
External links
- Melanieroach.com
- M. Roach snatching 78 kg (172 lb)
- M. Roach after snatching 78 kg (172 lb)
- Melanie Roach at Weightlifting Exchange
