Accurate as of May 29, 2024

Age: 34 (May 22, 1990)

Coached by: Dave Spitz

Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn. | Be Somebody Gym

Train out of (city and gym): Knoxville, Tenn. | Be Somebody Gym

First year of competition: 2013, Handle Barbell Open

Competition Personal records:

Education

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Applied Exercise Science, Austin Peay State University 2013
Former football player at Austin Peay where he totaled 1,180 rushing yards and 83 receiving yards through 26 games, scoring five touchdowns.

Accolades short list (Titles, American/World Records):

IWF bio
Qualified for Paris by earning the Pan American continental spot. Kitts ranks 14th at 102 kg, but he’s the top-ranked lifter from the Pan-American region and thus earned a quota spot to represent the region.
Tokyo 2020 Olympian. Finished eighth at 109 kg, lifting 177 kg in the snatch and 213 kg in the C&J
Represented the U.S. at five IWF World Championships. Best finish was eighth at 102 kg in 2022 where he lifted 170/209/379
Finished on the podium in four of his five Pan American Championships, earning gold three times and silver once.
Holds five senior American records across two weight classes. At 102 kg, his records are 177 kg in the snatch and 388 kg in the total. At 109 kg, his records are 177/223/399. His 177 kg SN at 109 kg was set at the Tokyo Olympics.
Nursed a lower body injury following the 2023 IWF World Championships, forcing him to just make appearances at the 2024 European Championships and IWF World Cup.
Trains alongside Nathan Damron who was a Paris 2024 hopeful. Damron finished 12th in the 89 kg qualifying rankings, just shy of making the U.S. team. Also trains with up-and-coming U.S. athlete Morgan McCullough.

Features

Wes Kitts

Athlete Bio