Weightlifter Camille Brown can perform some crazy feats—ones that have captured the eyeballs and attention of more than 22,000 Instagram followers.
The fitness junkie says she started strength training in eighth grade when her dad was concerned that she didn't have enough muscle to avoid injuries while playing softball. Although she says she hated how hard it was to put on muscle mass, she eventually began to see her selfie-worthy strength develop, and she's been hooked ever since.
In 2012, while playing softball for the California Polytechnic State University, Brown decided she wanted to keep competing in the off-season. She began doing additional workouts for CrossFit and Olympic lifting competitions. That same year, her junior year of college, Brown's Instagram account blew up when she started posting handstand selfies that were then re-posted by accounts with large followings, like Fitgirlsworldwide and Progressive_calistenics. Commenters began writing about how inspiring Brown's photos were.
All the while, Brown continued her weightlifting training. Now, with her college and softball careers behind her, Brown says she's set her sights on making the U.S. Olympic weightlifting team. Her competition is this Saturday, and she could walk away with a medal or, if her scores are high enough, a chance to participate in a competition that could lead to the Olympic team.
Want to know more about this strength-training sensation? We chatted with Brown about the advantages of being so strong and the strangest place she's ever done a handstand:
What do you like most about strength training?
I think the biggest reward is seeing that you can do something today that you couldn't do yesterday. And just knowing that you benefit so much from all of the hard work you put in. Then in a week or so you see the results right away. You feel better, stronger, healthier, and there's no greater feeling than that. Knowing that you can put more weight on the bar or you can run a little faster—I love the sense of accomplishment that makes you want more.
What workout do you dread the most?
It would have to be some kind of timed run. And burpees, definitely. I'm so used to softball and sprinting from home to first, but when it gets to be a mile or a couple of miles, I'm like, 'Oh man, this is too long.' Burpees are a full-body exercise, so you get tired right away.
What body part are you most proud of?
My quads, because I never had them when I first started strength training. I was such a scrawny, spaghetti-armed kid, spaghetti-legged kid, so just having definition in my legs is what I'm proud of. It's good to be proud of what you've accomplished. And your muscle mass is like a little bit of a trophy—you put a lot of hard work, dedication, and effort into that, and why not be proud of your quads? I can't fit into a size 24 anymore, but I can do something amazing that I couldn't do two weeks ago. I think that changing how girls view their bodies is really important.
What are the random perks of being so strong?
Well, it's helpful for moving. I just moved houses and moved all of my stuff up on my own. But sometimes I break a door handle when I don't mean to. I'm just in a rush and tear off my doorknob. There's been a couple of times when I've done that. Sometimes it's a disadvantage, but it's worth it. Also, being able to walk my family's giant pit bull [is an advantage].
Where is the weirdest place you've ever done a handstand?
The roof of my car, and I posted that.
What would be your dream handstand location?
I've always wanted to do one on a skyscraper or somewhere really high up. Something a little more daunting that my mom wouldn't approve of.
There's a picture of you on Instagram that says you're "flagging." It looks crazy! What the heck does that mean?
Basically, you just find any kind of object and make yourself into a flag by being parallel to the ground. It takes a lot of core strength.
What Instagram post are you most proud of?
My no-handed clean and jerk video. I did a clean and caught it on my shoulders—you normally catch it with your hands. It has the most likes on my Instagram [nearly 2,000] and was something that at first I was really scared to do. I was like, 'I can't do this. I'm going to hit myself in the chin. What am I doing?' But after a little while, I decided to give it a try and just be fearless. And so I did it, and added more weight and did it again. I'm waiting until after my Olympic lifting competition before trying it again.
Who inspires you on Instagram?
For handstands, I'm inspired by @progressive_calisthenics. We tag each other in our posts. For weight lifting, I would say Lauren Fisher [@ltfisher12]. She's an Olympic lifter and a CrossFitter and she [lifts really heavy weights] for being not that heavy of a kid. She's in the 63 kilogram [about 139 pounds] weight-lifting class. I say to myself everyday, 'Work until your idols become your rivals,' so I've been working to get to her numbers so someday I can compete with her.
What's your biggest strength-training accomplishment?
I would say, I went from barely being able to snatch 45 kilograms [almost 100 pounds] properly to snatching 55 kilograms [about 122 pounds] within only a couple months. I think that so far has been the biggest accomplishment. Especially since I used to hate the snatch—and sometimes I still do. It's amazing that something can feel so heavy, but when you get the form right, it can all of a sudden feel so effortless.
What's your next strength-training goal?
My next goal is to get a personal record on July 26 when I compete in the Olympic competition. From there, I just want to get stronger and better and see if I can take my weight lifting to a higher level. I've always been about getting to the most elite level in any sport, so that would be to be on the U.S. Olympic lifting team.
Finish this sentence: Girls who lift weights...
Are empowered and are goal-driven. Whether they want to look good for summer or because they want to max out or get a new personal record, whatever it is, they're goal-driven.
This interview has been edited for space and clarity.
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