She’s an incredibly strong 12-year-old who can lift the equivalent weight of a baby hippo.
Elle Hatamiya was crowned the USA Weightlifting National Youth Champion in 2016 – thanks to her strict daily training regime, she can lift more than 50kg.
The young girl, from San Francisco in the US, first showed an interest in an array of sports when she was just 15 months old, but only started weightlifting two years ago.
"Elle is super dedicated and strong when it comes to weightlifting,” says her proud mom, Tracy (41).
As soon as she learned how to walk, Elle started recreational gymnastics classes – which led to her starting CrossFit training, followed by weightlifting.
At nine years old the strong girl was able to lift weights most boys her age would probably struggle picking up.
Astonishingly, she’s now worked her way up to winning many championships and regularly increases the weights of her lifts.
"Even though she's lifting such heavy weights I don't get nervous watching her,” says Tracy. “I know that Elle's coach has taught her to use an excellent technique when lifting.”
But the young girl's success didn't come easy; she was placed on an extremely strict training system and a healthy protein-enriched diet – Elle refuses to eat any processed foods.
"Elle trains with her gymnastics team four days a week, lifts twice a week and [goes to] dojo twice a week,” says Tracy.
When she’s not spending many hours training for a competition, she lives life like any normal tween would.
"She attends public school and does homework just like her peers,” says her mom.
"When I'm older I want to become a professional weightlifter and own my own gym,” says the fit pre-teen who’s always enjoyed doing sports.
Elle’s mom says she’s extremely proud of her daughter and that her happiness is her number one priority.
"Her success so far has been amazing, but the important part to me is that she’s happy and fulfilled," says Tracy.
Source: Magazine Features