An Interview with Kendrick Farris
With the Olympic games just weeks away, most athletes would be content just to be headed to Beijing. Not Kendrick Farris. While American weightlifting enthusiasts have faced some crushing disappointments lately (the latest of which you can read about here), they find hope in the performance of the 85 kilogram (187lbs) Louisiana native. Boasting competition bests of 158kg (348lbs) in the Snatch and 201kg (443lbs) in the Clean and Jerk, he is America's #1 ranked weightlifter. With that title comes high expectations, but none expect more than Kendrick himself. When the final weight is lifted in Beijing, only one thing will do for America's number one...Gold.
THREEWHITELIGHTS caught up with Kendrick this past week. Here's what he had to say.
THREEWHITELIGHTS: Could you start off by telling us a little bit about how you got started in weightlifting?
Kendrick Farris: My uncle, Kevin Burns, read about a program that coach Kyle Pierce had just started here in Shreveport and he felt like weightlifting would help with the sports that my brother, my cousin, and I were playing. I was 11 years old at the time.
THREEWHITELIGHTS: Did you play any other sports before/during your career as a weightlifter, and if so, when did you decide to make the switch to weightlifting full time?
Kendrick Farris: I used to play football, basketball, and table tennis (table tennis was before all of the other sports). Football lasted the longest out of these three sports, but I stopped playing when I was 15 because the coach and I had a disagreement about how I should weight train. I chose weightlifting over football and I think I made the right move...haha.
THREEWHITELIGHTS: How serious were you about training when you began?
Kendrick Farris: When I first started lifting, I was only coming 2-3 times a week. The workouts were not real intense because I was just learning how to do the movements. I would probably be in the gym for and hour, maybe and hour and a half at the most, when I began.
THREEWHITELIGHTS: Deep down, every athlete dreams of competing at the highest level of their respective sport. But some great athletes simply know they are destined to compete at the top. Was there a point in time before you qualified at the Olympic Trial when you just knew you were destined to be an Olympian?
Kendrick Farris: Actually, when I was 14, I would tell everyone that I was going to make the Olympic Team in 2004. I didn’t realize just how hard it was to actually make the team. So, by the time I was 18, I started to really get strong. Even though I wasn’t ranked high among the senior men, I just knew I was going to be the best.
On August 5th, 2004, I was working at this restaurant as a bus boy. While I was working, weightlifting was broadcast on the television as part of the Olympics…that was one of those moments where I felt like God was showing me where I could be, you know? I ended up quitting my job as a bus boy, and began working just as hard as I was praying…now I’m just getting ready to go make history!
THREEWHITELIGHTS: How has your training evolved over the years?
Kendrick Farris: When you make up your mind that you are going to be the best, your whole mindset has to change as well. For example, when I don’t feel like doing something in training, I just think about how other lifters feel, regardless of weight class. I think - I bet they feel the same way right now, tired, not wanting to finish, or perhaps even working harder than me. That is how I make myself do these things. I like to call it a deposit - because when the competition rolls around, you don’t want to go to that bank and find your balance is in the negative. That is why during training, you have to make plenty of deposits, instead of withdrawing all the time. So I’m probably in the gym training once a day for about 4-5 hours, 5 days per week.
THREEWHITELIGHTS: When were your first national and international competitions and how did you perform?
Kendrick Farris: My first national competition was in Virginia Beach, VA, at the junior Olympics. I placed 1st (only one in my weight class, baby). My first international competition was at Louis Cyr, but I got second place.
THREEWHITELIGHTS: The United States is usually a strong competitor in the international sporting scene. In weightlifting, it lags behind, ranked 27th in the world. As one of our only top ranked international weightlifters, what factors do you believe are responsible for our lack of competitiveness in the sport?
Kendrick Farris: Number one, I don’t feel like our lifters go to win. I don’t want anyone to take this the wrong way… I am not saying people in our country don’t work hard enough, because I don’t train with everyone so I can't speak on that.
What we do in the US is make excuses about doping and how other countries cheat. Well, these are facts - so why would you sell yourself short because of your circumstances? That's like having no money and saying: “well I don’t have anything so I quit.” You should be like: “ok, that’s what they have to do to beat me? Alright, I’m going to work 10x as hard. I'm going to make it hard on them.” The substances that they are using are man made. The source of my strength comes from GOD...
I just pray and do the best that I can do, and I know it's going to work out for me, because it's already been written out for me. The US hasn't had a male win a medal since 1984. That was before I was born. So why do you think I’m here!!?? I'm here to make history. I'm going to take the Gold because that is the top prize. People may say: “you aren't ranked at the top of the class.” Then I'll just say, “if the Olympics were decided by whoever submitted the fastest time or the heaviest total, then it would be pointless to have the competition”…It's only about who is better on that day, at that moment.
THREEWHITELIGHTS: On that note, what advice do you have for young weightlifters across America who dream of competing on the international scene one day?
Kendrick Farris: Trust in God and always believe in yourself. Nothing comes easy…if it did, then people would be doing great things all day everyday. So work as hard as you think you need to be the best, if not harder!
THREEWHITELIGHTS: Next month in Beijing, drugs are sure to figure into the final distribution of medals. Already, the Greek and Bulgarian teams have been suspended/banned from competition, shaking up the international scene. How much pressure is there on elite weightlifters to dope, and where do you think this pressure is coming from?
Kendrick Farris: I guess all the pressure is coming from the coaches. I know some athletes feel like they have dope to in order to be competitive, which in my opinion is false. Hey, to each his own.
THREEWHITELIGHTS: Your unusual style in the jerk has been the subject of much debate. A hybrid between a split jerk and power jerk, some fans have coined it the "splot". One thing is for sure though...it works! How did you develop this unique method?
Kendrick Farris: Instead making my body fit a jerk style, I made a jerk style fit me…haha. It's more of a natural movement.
On the Olympic Trials
THREEWHITELIGHTS: What went through your mind as you stepped up to a bar loaded with 201 kilos for a new american record in the clean and jerk?
Kendrick Farris: That I was about to make it pretty easily.
THREEWHITELIGHTS: At the Olympic Trials in April, after you set the American record in the Clean and Jerk, you posed with a bottle of vitamin water. What was that all about?
Kendrick Farris: Well, I was drinking Vitamin Water in the back and the cameras were around, and I just thought it would be clever to do a mini commercial. Some people actually took it the wrong way, but hey, I didn’t mean to offend anyone I was just having a little fun.
Note: See Kendrick’s mini-commerical (and record-breaking Clean and Jerk) below.
THREEWHITELIGHTS: How does it feel to be an Olympian?
Kendrick Farris: The feeling of being an Olympian is great! A lot of people understand being an Olympian better than Weightlifting. I still have to explain to them what it is I actually do...haha, but people understand how serious the Olympics are and they respect that, which makes me feel good about working hard everyday.
On Family
THREEWHITELIGHTS: How do you balance your responsibilities as a student, father, and competitive weightlifter? What sacrifices have you made, if any?
Kendrick Farris: Time is the biggest sacrifice that I have made...but all that has done is make me value the time I do spend with my family.
THREEWHITELIGHTS: What role does family play in your success as an athlete?
Kendrick Farris: They play a huge role with all of their support and their understanding of how busy I am.
THREEWHITELIGHTS: Speaking of family, can you tell us about your mother's attempt's to raise money so she can accompany you to Beijing? How can we help?
Kendrick Farris: Well, we have been taking up donations in order to get my mom to Beijing. We are trying to raise 5-6 thousand dollars and right now, we have about 2 thousand. So if you know anyone who wants to donate, then please send a check to 1638 Easy St., Shreveport, LA 71101 or go to Regions Bank and make a deposit to Monica Lockett.
Quick Fire
THREEWHITELIGHTS: What is your favorite lift?
Kendrick Farris: The deadlift, because all I have to do is pick the bar up...haha.
THREEWHITELIGHTS: What is your favorite food?
Kendrick Farris: Some kind of salad (sushi is working its way to the top of my list).
THREEWHITELIGHTS: Of all the places you have traveled over the course of your weightlifting career, which has been your favorite?
Kendrick Farris: I am going to go with Puerto Rico. The people are so kind and the women there are so BEAUTIFUL!!!
THREEWHITELIGHTS: Who are some of your favorite weightlifters?
Kendrick Farris: I honestly don’t have any. My favorite athlete is Muhammad Ali. Hands down the greatest!
Thanks for taking the time Kendrick, and good luck in Beijing - we are all rooting for you!
Note: We would like to encourage as many people as possible to donate to Mrs. Lockett's cause. It is important that Kendrick have his number one supporter throughout his career there with him for what will undoubtedly be the most important moment in his athletic career so far. Every little bit will help. Thanks!
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