Athletes Qualify for Worlds and Pay Tribute to Former USAW Executive Director at the Rodger DeGarmo Memorial Open
Two years after the sudden death of USA Weightlifting Executive Director Rodger DeGarmo (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 72 athletes competeD in the Rodger DeGarmo Memorial Open / World Team Secondary Qualifier on Saturday and Sunday at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
In its second year, the Rodger DeGarmo Memorial Open pays tribute to DeGarmo, a lifelong weightlifter who was hired as the High Performance Director for USA Weightlifting in March 2005 and was later named Executive Director of the organization in April 2007.
DeGarmo was in Chicago on a site visit for the 2009 Pan American Championships when he passed away on August 28, 2007. DeGarmo left behind his wife of 14 years, Suzanne, as well as daughters Paige and Maggie who are now 14 and 11, respectively. Suzanne, Paige and Maggie were on site at the tournament.
” The support we have been given by the weightlifting family has been and continues to be tremendous and for that we are grateful,” Suzanne DeGarmo said.
Athletes were competing in all weight divisions for the opportunity to represent Team USA at the 2009 World Championships which will be held Nov. 17-27 in Goyang City, Korea.
