Ssekyaaya, Charles

NOC Uganda   
GenderMen
Born11 Apr 1994 in Mulago, UGA
Height1.59 m
Human Interest
General Interest
Awards and honours He was flag bearer for Uganda at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. (Facebook profile, 05 Jul 2014)

He was named the 2011 United States Powerlifting Association [USPA] Weightlifter of the Year. (myuganda.co.ug, 05 Apr 2012)
Other information NATIONAL FIRST
He became the first weightlifter to represent Uganda at an Olympic Games when he competed at the 2012 Games in London. He received a wild card entry for London from the International Weightlifting Federation [IWF]. (allafrica.com, 27 Jun 2012; newvision.co.ug, 27 Jun 2012)

TRAINING IN THE UNITED STATES
In 2012 he trained in Colorado Springs, CO, United States, after receiving an Olympic Solidarity scholarship from the International Olympic Committee [IOC]. He once again won a scholarship to train in Colorado Springs in 2015/16. (monitor.co.ug, 24 Nov 2015; newvision.co.ug, 27 Jun 2012)
Further Personal Information
Languages English, Swahili
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto "Whatever happens, it's gonna be fun." (Facebook profile, 03 Nov 2017)
Hobbies Playing snooker, watching movies, preaching. (Athlete, 13 Nov 2014)
Injuries He suffered a back injury while training for the 2014 World Championships, which he carried into the event in Almaty, Kazakhstan. (Athlete, 13 Nov 2014)

He tore the meniscus in his knee while training in the United States, three months before the 2012 Olympic Games in London. He recovered in time to compete in London, but the injury affected his performance at the Games. (Athlete, 13 Nov 2014)
Memorable sporting achievement Setting a Ugandan record at the 2015 World Championships in Houston, TX, United States of America. (AmbassadorSports, 01 Dec 2016; monitor.co.ug, 24 Nov 2015)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? "I had an amazing talent in this sport. I performed better at the talent identification programme than those who were training for it."
When and where did you begin this sport? He began weightlifting in 2006 in Kampala, Uganda.
International Debut
Year 2010
Competing for Uganda
Tournament African Championship
Location Yaoundé, CMR
Further Personal Information
Occupation Athlete
Residence Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team Kingfield Barbell: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Name of coach Anthony Silengo [personal]

Major Results
Year Rank Event Venue
Olympic Games
2012 12 62kg   London
World Championships
2017 17 69kg   Anaheim, CA
2017 19 69kg - Snatch   Anaheim, CA
2017 16 69kg - Clean & Jerk   Anaheim, CA
2015 32 62kg   Houston, TX
2015 37 62kg - Snatch   Houston, TX
2015 27 62kg - Clean & Jerk   Houston, TX
2014 27 62kg   Almaty
2014 32 62kg - Snatch   Almaty
2014 29 62kg - Clean & Jerk   Almaty
African Championships
2016 3 62kg   Yaoundé
2016 4 62kg - Snatch   Yaoundé
2016 2 62kg - Clean & Jerk   Yaoundé
2012 4 62kg   Nairobi
2012 5 62kg - Snatch   Nairobi
2012 1 62kg - Clean & Jerk   Nairobi
2010 3 62kg   Yaoundé
2010 4 62kg - Snatch   Yaoundé
2010 2 62kg - Clean & Jerk   Yaoundé
2009 10 62kg   Kampala
2009 10 62kg - Clean & Jerk   Kampala
Commonwealth Games
2014 10 62kg   Glasgow
2010 14 62kg   Delhi
IWF Grand Prix
2011 3 62kg   Fuzhou
2011 3 62kg - Snatch   Fuzhou
2011 3 62kg - Clean & Jerk   Fuzhou