MILTON, Ga. — His football teammates call him Viking, and he is one fierce dude. While Madden Mones plays football for the Milton Feeder team and defender for his Southern Express Club Lacrosse team, he’s also a USA Weightlifting Champion.

What started as a simple workout has turned into a passion for Madden. He started competing in Olympic lifting just last year and won Youth National Champion for Men’s Under 13 in Detroit this past June.

“If you want to win, you have to be willing to work when no one else is working,” says Madden.

An eighth grader at Northwestern Middle School, Madden is inspired by his mentor, Hampton Morris, a world and American record holder Olympic lifter.

“It’s an honor to get to watch him train and learn from him,” say Madden. “He is part of Team USA.”

Madden, coached by Tripp Morris, focuses on two lifts, clean and jerk and snatch.

Before a weightlifting meet, and after weigh-ins are finished, Madden’s pre-meet routine is to eat and spend some time alone in a quiet area.

When he’s not competing in three sports, Madden enjoys playing video games, loves to cook, and just learned how to use the smoker.

To get his protein in, Madden loves a good steak, especially at Little Alley Steakhouse. And this middle schooler is already setting his sights beyond high school with an interest in earning a degree in engineering. Madden has learned already, anything is possible with hard work, focus, and goals!

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