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FORT STEWART, Ga. – Dryden Yates, a 14-year-old military child recently competed on the international weightlifting stage, placing fourth at the 2024 Pan-American Youth Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The event, held from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1 showcased Dryden’s remarkable talent in Olympic weightlifting, marking his first major international competition.
His father, 1st Sgt. David “Rowdy” Yates of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division attributed Dryden's natural affinity for the sport to growing up around gyms while he pursued his fitness goals.
“Dryden has always been a gym kid,” he said. “There were times when he was 4 or 5 years old, dragging a sled behind him with a 10-pound weight. He’s been around this kind of stuff his whole life.”
Yates' dedication to Olympic lifting intensified after a coach recognized his potential and began training him while Yates was on his second tour to Korea. Since then, his progress has shown marked improvement. At age 10, after just one competition, he qualified for nationals, setting the stage for his competitive future.
At the 2024 Pan-American Youth Championships, Yates competed in the 67kg weight class (over 150lbs) in both the snatch and clean and jerk events. Despite being the youngest competitor in his group, he set personal records with an 88kg (194lbs) snatch and a 108kg (238lbs) clean and jerk. He narrowly missed the podium, placing fourth, just one kilogram short in each event from earning a medal.
“It’s a very cool feeling but also very nerve-racking,” he said about competing at the international level. “You go into something you’ve never done before, and it’s just a different experience.”
Though Yates' talent is undeniable, his journey has not been without challenges. He has faced mental barriers common among high-performing athletes.
“There are days when I’m not really feeling good or not hitting certain weights,” he said. “You start doubting yourself, and it can hold you back from having a positive mindset going into competition.”
To combat this, Yates takes breaks throughout his training periods to refocus. Whether it’s playing video games or listening to music, these moments help him regain a positive attitude before returning to his workouts.
Looking ahead, Yates' goals include competing in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“As long as I’m of age, I want to try and go to the 2028 Olympics,” he said. “Bigger events in general would be pretty cool.”
Supporting his weightlifting career has been a team effort. His father credits not only his immediate family but also his Army family within the Marne Division for their unwavering support.
“We’re talking about the Olympics in 2028, and as long as he has that goal, I’m going to help him succeed,” he said. “Not just me – my Family, my wife’s family and my Army unit love having him around when he does PT (physical training) with us. They’ve always been very supportive, allowing me to take leave to deal with his competitions. My battalion, my brigade, the 3rd ID Family – they’ve all been amazing.”
Yates' connection to the 3rd ID goes beyond being a military child. During a recent physical training competition organized by his father’s unit, he was invited to participate alongside the Soldiers of HHB. The competition, which included Olympic-style lifts like the snatch and clean and jerk, played to Dryden’s strengths.
“I snuck him in, and he competed with HHB,” his father recalled. “He crushed it, and it was awesome seeing him compete alongside the Soldiers.”
Yates' strong showing at the Pan-American Youth Championship is just the beginning. With the support of his family and friends, he remains focused on his ultimate goal of competing at the 2028 Olympics. His father remains committed to helping him every step of the way, confident in Dryden’s ability to continue breaking barriers.
“Every time I think he hits a ceiling, he goes to another competition and smashes it out of the park,” Yates said. “I wasn’t sure if he’d qualify for Pan Ams this early, but he proved me wrong, and I’m excited to see what he does next.”
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2024 11:46 |
| Story ID: | 480704 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 37 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Military child competes at 2024 Pan-American Youth Championship, places among the top, by SGT Elisabeth Tasker, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
