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Do not underestimate Imani Washington, who sets big goals and then achieves them.

She is 13 years old and a national champion weightlifter, a sport she picked up about 18 months ago.

Gold medalist Imani Washington, center, stands on the podium with Olivia Duas, left, and Anna Presley after winning the 13U/+63 kg division at the 2026 USA Weightlifting National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Photo courtesy of Kerri Goodrich/Performance Initiatives)

After only six months, she qualified for the 2025 national championships last summer in Colorado for her age and weight class and came home to Savannah with a bronze medal for an individual lift and fourth place overall.

“It’s not normal,” said her coach, Kerri Goodrich, the head coach and executive director of Savannah-based Performance Initiatives, which she founded in 2005. “I did not expect her to be going to nationals last year. I expected her to still be developing and building. When Imani chooses to do something, she focuses on being the best at it.”

Performance Initiatives sent seven lifters to the 2026 USA Weightlifting National Championships from June 20-28 in Colorado Springs. Under the team name Beyond the Barbell, they competed in the youth (17 and under) portion, with five at nationals for the first time.

Imani Washington competes in the clean and jerk at the 2026 USA Weightlifting National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo. Washington lifted 65 kilograms, setting a Georgia state record in the 13U/+63 kg division. (Photo courtesy of Daniell/Performance Initiatives)

Washington was back, and this time had even greater ambitions.

“I wanted to at least make podium,” she recalled. “I focused a lot in training. I tried my best.”

Washington was the best, winning the 13-under/+63 kg division (138.89 pounds) with a total of 115 kg. Her lifts in the snatch (50 kg) and clean and jerk (65 kg) were also best in the division and personal bests as she set three Georgia state records.

“She said she wanted to be on the podium next year and wanted to be much better,” Goodrich said. “She did that. She worked hard for that. It was scary for her getting on a big stage and pushing herself to do larger weights. She did that. She focused in training after school and she did her homework. She worked hard all year ’round. It didn’t just happen overnight.” 

A rising eighth-grader at Susie King Taylor Community School, Washington, admitted nationals was “a little different,” but with her experience at competitions, “it was pretty normal.”

Keeping the process as routine as possible was important.

“One of the coaches said, ‘rinse and repeat.’ That kind of motivated me,” Washington said.

She was also inspired and supported by her teammates, who totaled two more Georgia state records and three team awards.

More standout lifters

Nyanza Wilson, competing in the 16-17/+77 kg division, broke Georgia marks with her lift of 80 kg in the clean and jerk and her 133 kg total. Wilson also lifted 53 kg in the snatch.

Nyanza Wilson competes in the clean and jerk at the 2026 USA Weightlifting National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo. Wilson lifted 80 kilograms to set a Georgia state record in the 16-17/+77 kg division. (Photo courtesy of Malachia Hudson/Performance Initiatives)

Kaidence Washington, 12, was sixth overall in the division won by her sister, Imani. Kaidence’s best snatch was 40 kg, and her best clean and jerk was 52 kg for 92 total.

Jace Chavis was fifth in 11U/30 kg, with bests of 19 kg in snatch and 25 kg in clean and jerk for 44 total.

Layla Music was fifth in 13U/40 kg, with bests of 22 kg in snatch and 28 kg in clean and jerk for 50 total.

Morgan Parker was seventh overall in 11U/30 kg. Her bests were 14 kg in snatch and 17 in clean and jerk for 31 total.

Gabrielle Holmes was 18th in 13U/+63 kg, with bests of 27 kg in snatch and 36 kg in clean and jerk for 63 total.

Chavis, Music, Parker, Holmes, and Kaidence Washington made their first national appearances.

Beyond the Barbell earned second place in both the U13 and U17 women’s teams and sixth place in the U13 men’s team.

“We weren’t expecting to take this many kids this year,” said Goodrich, who has about 45 competitive weightlifters ages 7 to 25. “They surprised us and so we made it happen.”

Roshawana Holmes, Performance Initiatives program coordinator, also coached the athletes at the competition.

Members of Beyond the Barbell pose during the 2026 USA Weightlifting National Championships. Back row, from left, are Gabrielle Holmes, Nyanza Wilson and Imani Washington. Middle row, from left, are Layla Music, Kaidence Washington and Morgan Parker. Front row is Jace Chavis. (Photo courtesy of Kerri Goodrich/Performance Initiatives)

Weightlifting opens doors 

While they still compete under Coastal Empire Weightlifting, PI lifters really liked what the name Beyond the Barbell represents.

“The weightlifting is a piece of their development. They do so much beyond the barbell, and not just the platform,” Goodrich said.

A nonprofit organization, Performance Initiatives, serves youths and young adults through athletic, educational, and mentoring programming. Weightlifting is a tool to help them reach their potential and build confidence, says Goodrich, who was a member of the U.S. Women’s Weightlifting National Team.

Beyond the Barbell coaches Kerri Goodrich, left, and Roshawna Holmes pose at the 2026 USA Weightlifting National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Photo courtesy of Nyanza Wilson/Performance Initiatives)

The sport can take them around the country and the world, expanding their knowledge and understanding as well as opening educational and career opportunities, she said.

“Our goal is to build a strong foundation, technically make them sound, and then develop one step at a time, moving up the rankings and the podium, and let them have fun doing it,” Goodrich said. “And they did, because the national stage is pretty scary for some kid that’s 10 or 12 years old and has never been on that size platform. They did great. They were supporting each other, cheering for each other, telling each other jokes when they got nervous. They helped each other make it fun for them, too.”

Imani Washington encourages teammates and, despite her usually quiet demeanor, will crack “the most off-the-wall joke that breaks the ice for everybody,” Goodrich said. 

“She’s quiet until you get to know her, but she’s in stealth mode all the time,” the coach said. “She’s very focused. She strategizes a lot. She keeps things to herself until she’s really confident. She likes to execute more than she likes to talk.”

When prompted, Washington said her goals are to set personal records as she moves up in age and weight divisions. Her ultimate goal is competing in the Olympics, with 2032 the soonest Summer Games on her radar.

Quite a progression from the young girl who joined Performance Initiatives after learning her cousin, CJ, lifted, and she checked out the gym.

“It was a sport I hadn’t heard of,” she recalled. “I thought it was really interesting, so I decided to join Performance Initiatives.”

It was hard from the beginning, Washington said, but she wanted to keep improving and stuck with it.

Setting such a lofty goal fits Washington’s personality, even so early in her weightlifting career, Goodrich said.

“I think it’s a good thing for her because Imani’s a very all-in person. She doesn’t do anything halfway,” Goodrich said. “So if she even starts something, she’s the type of person who’s going to learn as much as she can to be the best she can. Maybe she might not be the best, but she will do the best she possibly can do in whatever’s she’s doing.”

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Photos courtesy of Performance Initiatives

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