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Farris, Kendrick
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| NOC |
United States
|
| Gender | Men |
| Born | 02 Jul 1986
in Shreveport, LA, USA |
| Height | 1.68 m |
| Weight | 93 kg |
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Further Personal Information |
| Residence |
Shreveport, LA, USA |
| Higher education |
Communications - Louisiana State University: Shreveport, LA, USA |
General Interest |
| Hobbies |
Performing comedy, editing and producing videos, playing video games, spending time with family, travelling, and coaching. (Facebook page, 06 Oct 2015) |
Sport Specific Information |
| Why this sport? |
His uncle thought it would be a good idea for him and his brothers to learn how to lift the correct way.
“I appreciate the discipline and goal-setting I've learnt through this sport, and being able to travel to across the country and the world is a major plus. I'm well cultured and more aware of life because of my sport.” |
General Interest |
| Most influential person in career |
Former coach Kyle Pierce, and his mother. (Facebook page, 06 Oct 2015) |
| Hero / Idol |
USA basketballer Michael Jordan and boxer Muhammad Ali. (sealgrinderpt.com, 11 Dec 2011; Athlete, 23 Jul 2012) |
Sport Specific Information |
| When and where did you begin this sport? |
He began training in weightlifting at age 11. At age 16 he decided to focus on weightlifting rather than American football or basketball, as he thought he could reach a higher level in the sport. |
General Interest |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
“Weightlifting is a ritual of life. Every day is not going to be a sunny day. If every day was a sunny day, it wouldn’t be a sunny day. It would just be a day. There’s up and downs, just like there are in life. You’ve got to keep your eyes on the goal and keep chugging along." (Facebook page, 20 Oct 2014) |
| Other information |
OLYMPIC DREAM BEGINS
Although he has been lifting weights since age 11, it was not until 2004 while he was working in a restaurant that he realised he wanted to compete in the Olympic Games. "One day at work some of my co-workers called me over pointing to the TV asking, 'Isn't this what you do?' First of all, it was crazy for me to see weightlifting on TV. Secondly, it was the Olympics in Athens. And thirdly, it was my weight class. It was like God was showing me where I was supposed to be and it wasn't bussing tables. That's when I knew I was supposed to be an Olympian." (beliefnet.com, 28 Jun 2012)
BUSINESS OWNER
He runs a website selling clothes and wristbands with the quote 'Bless The Gym!'. "I started saying 'Bless the gym' as a way to motivate myself to be the best I can be on a daily basis during training. I used this phrase as a reminder that I'm not the only one in the gym seeking new goals or in need of encouragement during the journey." (store.blessthegym.com, 26 Jun 2013; Instagram profile, 12 Oct 2015)
COACHING
He and fellow weightlifter Derrick Johnson organise a weightlifting camp tour called 'The Kings of Weightlifting' around the United States of America for people to come and learn about weightlifting and proper technique. (crossfitolaf.com, 21 May 2014; kendrickjfarris.com, 04 May 2014; Facebook profile, 12 Aug 2015; The Kings of Weightlifting Facebook page, 02 Sep 2015)
TATTOO AFICIONADO
He has over 20 tattoos, including Olympic rings across his upper back, a bible scripture on his left arm and an RIP on his chest. He even convinced his mother to get a tattoo on her wrist before her birthday in 2014. (teamusa.org, 15 Jul 2010; Instagram profile, 24 Oct 2014; Instagram profile, 8 Jul 2014; Facebook profile, 24 Mar 2014; Instagram profile, 4 Jun 2014, Instagram profile, 6 Jun 2014) |
Further Personal Information |
| Family |
Wife Katrina and sons Khalil and Kingsley |
General Interest |
| Injuries |
He dislocated his pelvis in late 2011 and needed about six months to recover. (Athlete, 23 Jul 2012)
At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing he injured his shoulder. He underwent an intensive rehab treatment programme instead of surgery, and did not train for four months. (athletesinaction.org, 19 Jul 2012) |
Further Personal Information |
| Occupation |
Athlete, Business Owner, Coach, Motivational Speaker |
| Languages |
English |
General Interest |
| Awards and honours |
He was selected as an Athlete Role Model for the USA weightlifting team during the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing. (iwf.net, 17 Mar 2014) |
| Nicknames |
King of the Platform (toronto2015.org, 14 Jul 2015) |
| Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning a gold medal in the 94kg event at the 2015 Pan Americam Games in Toronto, Canada. (store.blessthegym.com, 14 Jul 2015) |
| Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs |
He meditates prior to competition. (teamusa.org, 16 Nov 2015) |
| | Olympic Games |
| 2016 |
11 |
94kg |
 Rio de Janeiro |
| 2012 |
7 |
85kg |
 London |
| 2008 |
6 |
85kg |
 Beijing |
| | World Championships |
| 2015 |
11 |
94kg |
 Houston, TX |
| 2015 |
13 |
94kg - Snatch |
Houston, TX |
| 2015 |
13 |
94kg - Clean & Jerk |
Houston, TX |
| 2011 |
19 |
85kg |
 Paris |
| 2011 |
20 |
85kg - Snatch |
Paris |
| 2011 |
17 |
85kg - Clean & Jerk |
Paris |
| 2010 |
|
85kg |
 Antalya |
| 2010 |
|
85kg - Snatch |
Antalya |
| 2010 |
|
85kg - Clean & Jerk |
Antalya |
| 2009 |
12 |
85kg |
 Goyang |
| 2009 |
14 |
85kg - Snatch |
Goyang |
| 2009 |
13 |
85kg - Clean & Jerk |
Goyang |
| 2007 |
|
85kg |
 Chiang Mai |
| 2007 |
26 |
85kg - Snatch |
Chiang Mai |
| 2007 |
|
85kg - Clean & Jerk |
Chiang Mai |
| 2006 |
15 |
85kg |
 Santo Domingo |
| 2006 |
24 |
85kg - Snatch |
Santo Domingo |
| 2006 |
12 |
85kg - Clean & Jerk |
Santo Domingo |
| | Pan American Games |
| 2015 |
1 |
94kg |
 Toronto, ON |
| 2011 |
3 |
85kg |
 Guadalajara |
| 2007 |
4 |
85kg |
Rio de Janeiro |
| | Pan American Championships |
| 2016 |
1 |
94kg |
 Cartagena |
| 2016 |
1 |
94kg - Snatch |
Cartagena |
| 2016 |
1 |
94kg - Clean & Jerk |
Cartagena |
| 2012 |
5 |
85kg |
 Antigua Guatemala |
| 2012 |
7 |
85kg - Snatch |
Antigua Guatemala |
| 2012 |
4 |
85kg - Clean & Jerk |
Antigua Guatemala |
| 2010 |
1 |
85kg |
Guatemala City |
| 2010 |
1 |
85kg - Snatch |
Guatemala City |
| 2010 |
1 |
85kg - Clean & Jerk |
Guatemala City |
| 2008 |
4 |
85kg |
 Callao |
| 2008 |
4 |
85kg - Snatch |
Callao |
| 2008 |
3 |
85kg - Clean & Jerk |
Callao |
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