USA Para Powerlifting

Para Powerlifter Jake Schrom

at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics

As he lined up with eight other lifters on the Tokyo Paralympic stage illuminated by hundreds of spotlights, para powerlifter Jake Schrom was anxious yet excited to compete at the sport’s highest level for the first time in his para powerlifting career.

“It was a surreal feeling like, ‘Wow, I’m finally here.’ There were a lot of nerves, but once it was my turn to lift, the anxiety fled and I focused on what I was there to do,” Jake said.

During his first-ever Paralympic run representing Team USA Para Powerlifting (USAPP), Jake finished in sixth place in the men’s up to 107 kg category, reaching a new personal best of lifting 218 kg (480 lbs).

“It felt good to accomplish a personal best on the highest judging stage,” Jake said. “It’s always natural to look back and want to do better than you did, but overall it went better than I could have ever imagined.”

Para powerlifter Jake Schrom completes a successful lift during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Jake Schrom celebrates a successful lift with Coach and USAPP High Performance Manager Mary Hodge. Jake Schrom in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Village For the first time in his para powerlifting career, Jake Schrom competed in the Paralympic Games.

After delaying the Olympic and Paralympic Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, athletes from around the world reunited in Tokyo this summer to compete among the best of the best.

“Despite the restrictions, it felt like you would imagine the Games would feel like,” Jake said. “Being in the village, where there were 4,400 total athletes from across the world, the majority of whom were disabled, was incredible because I never felt out of the crowd.”

Para powerlifting is the world’s fastest growing Paralympic sport, and Jake said witnessing its advancement over the last decade has been gratifying. Jake, too, has grown significantly within the sport, which became a passion for him after a 2008 car accident resulted in his right leg being amputated above the knee. Since then, when not working for his family’s tree service and landscaping business in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he has dedicated his life to building his rank and advancing to the Paralympics.

“It took a week to come down from the emotional high of competing at the Paralympics, but I will always remember it because I’ve been training toward that goal for such a long time, and it was incredible to finally get that moment on the biggest stage,” Jake said.

When Jake got word that he was invited to Tokyo 2020 after finishing in fifth place at the World Cup in Dubai, he began training both physically and mentally so as to not let the pressure get to him.

“Before an event, I visualize the venue, the platform and the judges to create an image in my mind,” Jake said. “It takes the nerves off the actual competition day because I already imagined it, so I’m able to channel the nerves in a good way without letting them affect me or my lifts.”

Having reached his Paralympic goal, Jake now plans to switch gears in order to spend more quality time with his family.

“I’m still getting better as an athlete, but I feel like I need to focus on domestic competitions where I can stay close to family,” Jake said. “There was tremendous buildup and anticipation going into the Paralympics, and then it was over in a flash. I’m glad to have had the opportunity to experience it.”

International Para Powerlifting Competition Coming to Logan

Logan University will host the World Para Powerlifting Americas Open Championships, July 8-11, 2022. The competition, which will take place at the Purser Center and include 20 individual medal events and one mixed team event, is a mandatory qualifying event for the Americas athletes for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. This will be the first time an international competition for para powerlifting is hosted in the U.S.

“This event is big, not only for our athletes here in the United States but for the sport and the Paralympic movement,” said Kelley Humphries-Mascoll, DC, MS, EMT-P, CSCS, ICCSP, CCSP, executive director of Paralympic operations. “To be the first to host an event like this in the U.S. is an honor for our department, Logan and the community. We are looking forward to hosting the Pan American teams!”