Norman Teen Weightlifter Only U.S. Female Olympic Hopeful in Youth Olympic Games

Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- The 2010 Youth Olympic Games kick off in Singapore in two weeks, and a Norman teenager will be the only girl representing U.S. in the sport of weightlifting.

Jessica Beed got into the sport when she was only 9-years-old and said it all started from Judo training and support from her coach.

Beed, now 16-years-old, can lift nearly 220 pounds over her head and has competed worldwide, including at the Youth World Championships. When Beed tried out for the Olympic team she said none of the boys made the team to qualify, making her the only girl representing the U.S. in weightlifting.

"It's incredible like when I first heard when only one girl was going. I was really nervous," Beed said.

Beed trains five times a week, and she said she's excited about the sport she's been training for since she was 9.

"When I tell guys I'm like, 'I'm in weightlifting,' and they go, 'Well, what do you bench?' I'm like, 'No it's Olympic lifting. It's a snatch and clean and jerk,' and they're like, 'Oh,'" Beed said. "Yeah, I'm totally ready for it. I think all my training is coming together. It's finally time to get out on the stage."

Steven Miller has been coaching Beed since she started and said he is proud to see her grow and battle against the best in the world.

"Weightlifting is a very brutal sport. It's a very Spartan sport," Miller said. "I'm just very proud of her."

And proud father Jeff Beed watches on as his little girl has trained nearly every day for the last seven years.

"I get a little bit anxious still when she's lifting the heavy weights at competitions, but it's a safer sport than what people think," Beed said.

The 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games takes place from August 14 to 26.

Beed said her next goal is the Summer Olympics 2012 in London.