Bella Rice is not your typical high school junior. While most of her peers are engrossed in the latest social media trends or fretting over upcoming exams, Bella has those concerns too, but she has also been busy perfecting her craft in the world of Olympic weightlifting.
From the age of 9, Bella has honed her skills in the disciplines of Snatch and Clean and Jerk, two parts of the same lift that require not only strength but impeccable form and technique. It is a passion that burns within her, ignited by her mother's own journey into the sport years prior.
Rice’s mother, Aimee had initially delved into weightlifting through CrossFit, a fitness regimen that incorporates elements of the Snatch and Clean and Jerk. Inspired by her mother's dedication, Bella eagerly followed suit.
“My mom is just one of those people who is just awesome at everything she does,” she said. “Of course I wanted to be like her.”
Under the guidance of experienced weightlifting coach Freddie Dorman, her dedicated coach who is based out of Altoona but sometimes works with her at the Pittsburgh Barbell Club in Bridgeville – a gym her mother now owns – Bella's talent began to flourish. With Freddie's mentorship and her mother’s encouragement, Bella has steadily improved, her lifts becoming more powerful and precise with each training session.
Last year marked a turning point for Rice. She began to see significant progress in her performance, culminating in a triumphant victory at the American Open Finals in Wilmington, NC. Her success only fueled her hunger for more, driving her to push herself even further.
With 2024 Nationals fast approaching right here in her hometown of Pittsburgh in late June, Bella's determination burns brighter than ever.
“Winning Nationals at home would be a dream come true,” she said. “Having my family there to see it in person and cheer me on, I get goosebumps just thinking about it.”
Weightlifting is measured in kilograms – or “kilos” – and Bella, who weighs less than 100 pounds, competes in the 16–17-Year-Old Girl, 45 Kilo Division. Under Dorman’s tutelage, Bella had added an impressive 8 kilos to her total lift, setting her sights on reaching even greater heights.
Ranked No. 1 in the nation in her weight class, Bella is a force to be reckoned with. She can now Snatch 52 kilos (115 pounds) and Clean and Jerk 63 Kilos (139 pounds) – which is more than she weighs! Yet, despite her growing list of achievements, Rice remains grounded, balancing her rigorous training schedule with her schoolwork and responsibilities as a cheerleader for Bethel Park High School.
Weightlifting is a tremendously demanding sport. Bella estimates that she trains five days per week, preparing for upcoming competitions like Nationals and working to qualify for the Pan-American Games in Ecuador this summer. For Rice, weightlifting isn't just about pure physical strength; it is about the exhilarating feeling of empowerment that comes with pushing her body to its limits and reaching her goals.
“There’s just no other feeling quite like it,” she said.
As she gears up for Nationals, Bella embraces the challenges that lay ahead. With her sights set on one day surpassing her mother's accomplishments and making her mark in the world of weightlifting, Bella vows to keep pushing herself as long as her body will allow it.
“I desperately want to put up better numbers than my mom in a competition, just once,” she said. “She is just awesome and that would feel like a monumental achievement.”
Bella Rice is not your typical high school junior. While most of her peers are engrossed in the latest social media trends or fretting over upcoming exams, Bella has those concerns too, but she has also been busy perfecting her craft in the world of Olympic weightlifting.From the age of 9, Bella has honed her skills in the disciplines of Snatch and Clean and Jerk, two parts of the same lift that require not only strength but impeccable form and technique. It is a passion that burns within her, ignited by her mother's own journey into the sport years prior.
Rice’s mother, Aimee had initially delved into weightlifting through CrossFit, a fitness regimen that incorporates elements of the Snatch and Clean and Jerk. Inspired by her mother's dedication, Bella eagerly followed suit.
“My mom is just one of those people who is just awesome at everything she does,” she said. “Of course I wanted to be like her.”
Under the guidance of experienced weightlifting coach Freddie Dorman, her dedicated coach who is based out of Altoona but sometimes works with her at the Pittsburgh Barbell Club in Bridgeville – a gym her mother now owns – Bella's talent began to flourish. With Freddie's mentorship and her mother’s encouragement, Bella has steadily improved, her lifts becoming more powerful and precise with each training session.
Last year marked a turning point for Rice. She began to see significant progress in her performance, culminating in a triumphant victory at the American Open Finals in Wilmington, NC. Her success only fueled her hunger for more, driving her to push herself even further.
With 2024 Nationals fast approaching right here in her hometown of Pittsburgh in late June, Bella's determination burns brighter than ever.
“Winning Nationals at home would be a dream come true,” she said. “Having my family there to see it in person and cheer me on, I get goosebumps just thinking about it.”
Weightlifting is measured in kilograms – or “kilos” – and Bella, who weighs less than 100 pounds, competes in the 16–17-Year-Old Girl, 45 Kilo Division. Under Dorman’s tutelage, Bella had added an impressive 8 kilos to her total lift, setting her sights on reaching even greater heights.
Ranked No. 1 in the nation in her weight class, Bella is a force to be reckoned with. She can now Snatch 52 kilos (115 pounds) and Clean and Jerk 63 Kilos (139 pounds) – which is more than she weighs! Yet, despite her growing list of achievements, Rice remains grounded, balancing her rigorous training schedule with her schoolwork and responsibilities as a cheerleader for Bethel Park High School.
Weightlifting is a tremendously demanding sport. Bella estimates that she trains five days per week, preparing for upcoming competitions like Nationals and working to qualify for the Pan-American Games in Ecuador this summer. For Rice, weightlifting isn't just about pure physical strength; it is about the exhilarating feeling of empowerment that comes with pushing her body to its limits and reaching her goals.
“There’s just no other feeling quite like it,” she said.
As she gears up for Nationals, Bella embraces the challenges that lay ahead. With her sights set on one day surpassing her mother's accomplishments and making her mark in the world of weightlifting, Bella vows to keep pushing herself as long as her body will allow it.
“I desperately want to put up better numbers than my mom in a competition, just once,” she said. “She is just awesome and that would feel like a monumental achievement.”
From the age of 9, Bella has honed her skills in the disciplines of Snatch and Clean and Jerk, two parts of the same lift that require not only strength but impeccable form and technique. It is a passion that burns within her, ignited by her mother's own journey into the sport years prior.
Rice’s mother, Aimee had initially delved into weightlifting through CrossFit, a fitness regimen that incorporates elements of the Snatch and Clean and Jerk. Inspired by her mother's dedication, Bella eagerly followed suit.
“My mom is just one of those people who is just awesome at everything she does,” she said. “Of course I wanted to be like her.”
Under the guidance of experienced weightlifting coach Freddie Dorman, her dedicated coach who is based out of Altoona but sometimes works with her at the Pittsburgh Barbell Club in Bridgeville – a gym her mother now owns – Bella's talent began to flourish. With Freddie's mentorship and her mother’s encouragement, Bella has steadily improved, her lifts becoming more powerful and precise with each training session.
Last year marked a turning point for Rice. She began to see significant progress in her performance, culminating in a triumphant victory at the American Open Finals in Wilmington, NC. Her success only fueled her hunger for more, driving her to push herself even further.
With 2024 Nationals fast approaching right here in her hometown of Pittsburgh in late June, Bella's determination burns brighter than ever.
“Winning Nationals at home would be a dream come true,” she said. “Having my family there to see it in person and cheer me on, I get goosebumps just thinking about it.”
Weightlifting is measured in kilograms – or “kilos” – and Bella, who weighs less than 100 pounds, competes in the 16–17-Year-Old Girl, 45 Kilo Division. Under Dorman’s tutelage, Bella had added an impressive 8 kilos to her total lift, setting her sights on reaching even greater heights.
Ranked No. 1 in the nation in her weight class, Bella is a force to be reckoned with. She can now Snatch 52 kilos (115 pounds) and Clean and Jerk 63 Kilos (139 pounds) – which is more than she weighs! Yet, despite her growing list of achievements, Rice remains grounded, balancing her rigorous training schedule with her schoolwork and responsibilities as a cheerleader for Bethel Park High School.
Weightlifting is a tremendously demanding sport. Bella estimates that she trains five days per week, preparing for upcoming competitions like Nationals and working to qualify for the Pan-American Games in Ecuador this summer. For Rice, weightlifting isn't just about pure physical strength; it is about the exhilarating feeling of empowerment that comes with pushing her body to its limits and reaching her goals.
“There’s just no other feeling quite like it,” she said.
As she gears up for Nationals, Bella embraces the challenges that lay ahead. With her sights set on one day surpassing her mother's accomplishments and making her mark in the world of weightlifting, Bella vows to keep pushing herself as long as her body will allow it.
“I desperately want to put up better numbers than my mom in a competition, just once,” she said. “She is just awesome and that would feel like a monumental achievement.”