A documentary chronicling the ups and downs of Savannah native Cheryl Haworth’s weightlifting career will air nationally Thursday on Georgia Public Broadcasting and South Carolina’s ETV.
“Strong!” follows Haworth as she battled injuries, questioned her confidence and body image and wondered what life would be like when not competing.
According to Independent Lens and producer/director Julie Wyman, Haworth entered the weightlifting world at age 13 after seeing women weightlifters at the gym. With her parents’ support, she began training and entering competitions. At 15, she was the American national champion, and at 17 she won the bronze medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, which were the first Games to include a women’s weightlifting event.
In the four-year cycle leading up to the 2008 Olympics, Haworth set a world record at the 2005 Pan American Games by lifting 161 kilos, or 352 pounds. After graduating from college, she moved to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., for more intense Team USA training as it gears up for the 2007 World Weightlifting Championships in Thailand.
Go to gptv.org for air times.