By: Andrea Signor

 

Rachael “Big Red” Davis embraces the big numbers. 

 

In March, the 5’10” Olympic and power lifter shattered records at the Utah APF/AAPF State Championships with a 207-pound snatch, a 225-pound clean and jerk, a 230-pound bench press, a 363-pound squat and a 430-pound deadlift.

 

“I like being strong,” said Davis, who competes in the 75+ kilogram weight class. “I have a big personality so it’s cool to match that with big weight.”

 

Davis’ record-breaking lifts caught the attention of Glenn Pendlay head coach for Team Muscle Driver USA, who asked Davis to join his women’s team.

 

“My whole life was in Provo,” Davis said. “But I knew that I would regret it my whole life if I didn’t go.”

 

Now living and training in South Carolina, the 23-year-old is poised to put up even bigger numbers as she prepares for the 2014 American Open Championships in Washington, D.C. this December.

 

“My numbers are higher and I’m feeling confident.”

Weight, fear and faith

 

Throughout her childhood, Davis struggled with body image.

 

“For a lot of years I struggled with eating,” she said. “I wouldn’t say that I had an eating disorder – I didn’t need to be thin, but I had these habits.”

 

Davis said that she and her sister would sneak out of their parents’ house in the middle of the night to drive to the grocery store to binge on cereal and jars of Nutella. Then the guilt would set in.

 

“It’s hard to describe,” she said. “It made me feel sad. I didn’t understand why I did it.”

 

“When she stopped viewing food as something you have to sneak, but seeing it as fuel, that’s what made the transformation happen,” said Rebekah McClure, Davis’ sister.

 

Davis joined a local gym to stay healthy, opting for the elliptical until a trainer began putting her on the barbell.

 

“Weightlifting was healing for me,” she said. “I could gain and embrace it.”

 

For the next four years, Davis bounced from gym to gym, from trainer to trainer as she attended Brigham Young University. After the state championships, Davis was left without a trainer or a clear future in the sport. 

 

“I’ve always been a spiritual person,” she said. “The reason I am who I am is my constant faith in God. He provides constant and specific answers to my prayers.”

 

As she trained by herself, Davis said she began losing weight and strength. 

 

“One night I watched a Muscle Driver video and my whole soul and heart wanted that,” she said. “A couple of weeks later I got the phone call.”

 

Embracing change

 

In May, Davis packed her bags – one suitcase and a gym bag – and bought a one-way ticket to South Carolina, leaving behind lifelong friends and family.

 

“I didn’t have anywhere to stay,” she said. “I was waiting for the transfer flight when I got a call from a woman affiliated with my church saying that she had a room I could rent for the summer. … She picked me up from the airport.”

 

At the gym, training was hard.

 

“My heart was full of fear,” she said. “I wasn’t connecting with my teammates and I wasn’t able to put up the numbers that I knew I was capable of.”

 

“When she came to us, she didn’t have the best technique, but was still putting up big numbers. She’s just really strong,” said Don McCauley, assistant coach for Muscle Driver USA. “We taught her some different techniques and she is catching on. … We’re very happy with her.”

 

After helping her team clinch the title at nationals, Davis refocused – prioritizing stretching, sleep and eating.

 

Six days each week she’s in the gym, working toward big numbers for the American Open.

 

“I think she’ll be in the top four of five,” said McCauley. “By next year she’ll definitely be on the podium.”

 

Although she’s hesitant to admit it, Davis has her site set on the world stage.

 

“I want to go as far as I absolutely can,” she said. “My dream would be 2020 Olympics ... I’m 23 and I probably have another good seven years in this sport so I might as well dream big.”


Video By: The Olympic Weightlifting Guru


Video By: XTREMEPERFECT1