We attended our first WSO Florida State Championships, an event hosted by Live Oak and Suwannee High School, providing us with valuable insight into the growth of weightlifting in the USA.
As our country prepares to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, it’s exciting to see over 200 athletes competing in a single weekend. The event’s logistics were outstanding, showcasing the sport’s increasing organization and development.
A significant part of the venue setup was managed by Suwannee High School students, who assembled 15 warm-up platforms, two competition platforms, and approximately 205kg worth of training plates and barbells. Their dedication and hard work were truly impressive.
Live Oak was a very interesting venue. On one hand, many coaches and clubs from South Florida debated whether it was worth driving over five hours to compete in a school gym. On the other hand, North Florida lifters saw this as a great opportunity, with the event being just an hour’s drive from home, allowing more athletes to compete. For us, it felt like the perfect balance—helping the sport grow and increasing awareness across the state. After all, not many people outside the sport truly know what Olympic Weightlifting is or how to get involved.
For this event, we drove from Georgia, as we were staying in Kennesaw, and the trip was an easy one.
There are three main reasons why we really enjoyed this event and experience:
- Athletes were exposed to a different venue and competition environment.
- Lifters and coaches had the chance to use our unique plates, which are 100% natural latex rubber.
- We gained valuable insights into how we could impact Florida's weightlifting development in the near future.
The first reason why we appreciated weightlifting in a rural Florida high school gym was the environment. The entire venue was set up in an agricultural coliseum, which provided ample space and great accommodations. Having a full gym with weights and platforms helped keep the energy high and the pace fast. However, some might argue that a State Championship should always be held in a more prestigious venue. While that perspective makes sense, it’s not always beneficial for the competitiveness of the sport—especially for athletes who will eventually compete at the international level. Weightlifters need exposure to different competition settings to develop the right mindset for the next stage of their careers.
Many athletes competing at national events like The Arnold and American Open Series (AOs) are accustomed to large convention centers with air conditioning, full training equipment (platforms, squat stands, chalk buckets, bumper carts, and collars), high-quality flooring, and large spectator stands. This environment creates a stress-free and highly professional atmosphere, which is great for competition. However, once an athlete starts traveling internationally as Youth-Junior Team USA, the exposure to different countries, venues and even food could be difficult to "adapt" on a competition trip, which might impact their performance.
The second reason we enjoyed the 2024 WSO Florida Championships at Live Oak was the opportunity to understand equipment standards and connect with coaches and event staff. It was inspiring to see so many coaches working over eight hours in various roles—announcing, assisting with warm-ups, managing logistics, and even coaching other club members. This level of dedication highlighted the professionalism and commitment of Florida’s weightlifting community. Additionally, we received valuable feedback on equipment use in Florida clubs and competitions. The WSO Florida board members welcomed us, giving us an inside look at how the event operated.
Our BULLDOG Training Classic Plates were in use at the venue, with approximately 35% of the lifters and coaches choosing to warm up and train with them. The WSO needed additional weights to meet event requirements, and we were able to provide over 600kg in various plate sizes. We take pride in knowing that our BULLDOG bumper plates are built to last, ensuring that Florida weightlifters will continue using them for the next 10 to 20 years.
Throughout the event, we could hear our plates hitting the ground, their distinct bounce and sound, and even their signature smell and design setting them apart. We were thrilled to contribute to the WSO Florida Championships by providing our BULLDOG Training Classic weights, which stand out from 95% of training bumper plates worldwide.
Picture taken by Rafael Paredes for BULLDOG WEIGHTLIFTING EQUIPMENT 2024
Our 5kg Training Classic Plate made a strong debut in the warm-up area, as the competition equipment lacked any 17-inch diameter training plates to support youth and junior lifters during warm-ups. This distinction sets our product apart from others, as the past decade has seen most U.S. warm-up areas using competition plates or bushing bumper plates, which are not specifically designed for training or the Olympic sport of weightlifting.
Many of these "plastic-like" plates are made from synthetic rubber, making them narrower and harder, which impacts their durability. In contrast, our plates—while highly bouncy—are engineered for longevity and can withstand drops on any surface, including our 5kg Training Classic Plate.
Picture taken by Rafael Paredes for BULLDOG WEIGHTLIFTING EQUIPMENT 2024
We also noticed that USA Weightlifting coaches across the country invest heavily in plywood for platforms. Whether it’s a local meet (6-8 platforms) or a State Championship (14-16 platforms), managing this setup can be challenging. Volunteers, coaches, and staff must transport heavy plywood inserts, secure them in place for competition, and then disassemble everything once the event is over. This process is not only labor-intensive but also presents long-term issues—plywood has a limited lifespan due to repeated screwing and takes up significant storage space in garages or facilities.
This is why we find our BULLDOG Euro Training Platforms and BULLDOG Euro Competition Platforms to be a game-changer. Our platforms measure 8x8 feet (training) and 13x13 feet (competition), offering superior design and durability. The interlocking black rubber tiles create a safe, stable, and professional lifting area that can be set up and stored in under 15 minutes. Additionally, our BULLDOG weightlifting platforms are made from tread rubber and latex—without scraps, crumb, or hardening additives—ensuring greater longevity and resilience compared to traditional options.
Picture taken by Van Richardson for BULLDOG WEIGHTLIFTING EQUIPMENT 2024
Fast forward to the event, we had the opportunity to discuss this with a few coaches who appreciated our engineering vision and problem-solving approach in the industry. We were glad to exchange insights from their perspective on our BULLDOG Training Classic Plates and the importance of manufacturing durable plates—especially in the 5kg, 10kg, and 15kg range, as these are the most frequently used plates in a gym.
Picture taken by Rafael Paredes for BULLDOG WEIGHTLIFTING EQUIPMENT 2024
The third and final reason we enjoyed this event was the opportunity to compare international grassroots weightliftingwith a WSO event. We observed that event setups in the U.S. could be improved by at least 20%—not just in terms of venue aesthetics but also in equipment organization, setup, and storage efficiency. A more professional presentation benefits both the athletes and the overall event experience. However, raising these standards will take a few more yearsof development and refinement. Announcing, schedules and other operations are definitely good and improving every year.
Attending the 2024 WSO Florida State Championships was an eye-opening experience that reinforced our passion for weightlifting development. This event not only showcased the growth of the sport in the U.S. but also highlighted areas where improvements can be made—from equipment standards and venue logistics to athlete preparation and competition environments.
We were grateful for the opportunity to connect with coaches, athletes, and event organizers, exchange insights, and see our BULLDOG Training Classic Plates and Platforms in action. Events like this serve as a reminder of how small innovations in equipment and setup can create a lasting impact on the sport.
As we move forward, we remain committed to supporting the weightlifting community, providing high-quality equipment, and helping raise the competition standards across different levels. The journey to improving Olympic Weightlifting in the U.S. is ongoing, and we’re excited to be part of it.
Andres Castillo
BULLDOG TEAM