Unique passion inspires School District Five student in and outside the classroom

For Immediate Release – June 6, 2018

Unique passion inspires School District Five student in and outside the classroom

IRMO – Diamond Moore admitted growing up she was not the best student, but it all changed on April 19, 2017.  

“I started weightlifting and fell in love,” Moore said.

The Dutch Fork High junior hasn’t put the weights down since. Training at Bodyshop Athletics in Irmo, Moore has quickly ascended the ranks of youth competitive weightlifting.

This unique passion flipped the switch, Moore says.

“I used to not be a good student growing up because I never put in the effort, but weightlifting has changed my mindset,” Moore said. “I know in the gym I have to put in the work to be successful and I have versed that to school and brought my grades up.”

It’s all about numbers for Moore who currently has a 3.8 GPA. When it comes to the weights, Moore ranks third in the nation for her weight class. She can deadlift over 300 pounds, squat nearly 280 and holds the state record with a 200-pound power clean.

Her competitive nature won’t allow her to be satisfied, though. When asked her thoughts on being ranked third nationally, Moore simply smiled and responded, “It just means I need to put more work in to be first.”

She hopes to continue climbing the ladder towards being on top. Moore will compete in the Youth National Championship for weightlifting in Grand Rapids, Michigan later this month and is projected to medal in the competition.

“I’m nervous and excited at the same time because this will be my first time competing nationally,” Moore said.

Moore’s strength and drive in the gym and in the classroom has given her an idea of what she sees in her future. She hopes to one day work in law enforcement as a SWAT agent.

“I want to protect people and I feel like my abilities will allow me to succeed in the law enforcement field,” Moore said, who currently studies law enforcement at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies.

If her past is any indication of obtaining that goal, one can expect Moore to set that bar and raise it even higher.

###