Dori, 13, center, poses with her parents, Jake and Samantha Fredrick at the Lift Lab, Indianapolis.
Dori Fredrick has competed in seven lifting competitions.
John M. Bottorff, D.C., C.C.S.T., is a 1981 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic and a second generation chiropractor. He is certified in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma. He is a triathlete and an avid cyclist, runner and swimmer. He can be contacted at Bottorff Advanced Chiropractic at 362-8833 or online at www.Cvillepainrelief.com.
You might guess many things about this week’s Health Hero, but sizing her up you would likely miss the mark. Dori Fredrick is a budding Olympic weight lifter with a serious case of “competitionitis.”
Dori is the daughter of Samantha and Jake Fredrick. She is 13 years old and will be in eighth grade at Southmont Junior High School.
Her first love in sports is basketball and “yes” was her immediate reply to whether she was competitive or not.
“I get mad when I miss a shot I know I can make,” she said.
For example, when I asked her why she plays basketball she responded with a quick, “I like it.” A simple response but important in the fact she has discovered through playing what her interests are.
“When I see someone doing something I think, ‘I can do that. Let me try that.’”
To improve his fundamental skills in lifting and enhance his CrossFit Open performance, Dori’s dad Jake decided to work with the Lift Lab in Indianapolis. He talked Dori and his wife into going as well.
“I saw it as a way for them to spend some time together,” said Samantha as the trip over and back gave them time to talk.
Dori believes lifting has made her a stronger and better basketball player.
As for Samantha who joined in the lifting adventure, she had health concerns to motivate her.
“I was told that it was a matter when I would get osteoporosis, not if,” she said.
Medical studies reaffirm regularly that exercise stimulates bone growth effectively fighting osteoporosis.
Most people buy weights and start lifting without instruction. As a result, most people lift improperly which leads to acute and chronic injury. Although Jake is a certified USA weight lifting coach he and Samantha chose to use another coach for Dori. His name is Dan German of Lift Lab.
USA weight lifting has done its research when it comes to working with youth. They have programmed lifting with the mental and physical development of the child being sure to nurture their nature. Great care is given to when and how to present the sport to children.
Dan and Jake have had conversations about Dori’s development. Over zealous coaches or parents can be detrimental to the proper development of a child both on a physical and mental basis.
Case in point was when Dori started one of her first competitions. Jake thought Dan might want to have Dori “cut” her weight or restrict her water and food intake to take advantage of a lower weight class. Dan thought Jake might want the same thing. They were both pleased to see that they agreed it wasn’t in Dori’s best interest to do so.
Dori has competed in seven competitions. The class she competes in is by age and/or weight. She weighed in at 103 pounds last for the American Open in Indianapolis this past weekend. In her favorite lift called the snatch she cleared, which is 77 pounds from the ground over her head in one movement. She came within three pounds of clean and jerking her body weight.
Although Dori encourages her basketball friends to go lift with her to get stronger and more confident she has no takers. She does workout at CrossFit 54 with her friend Lindsay Congleton, who will enjoy the plug.
