Exciting news coming from USA Weightlifting: they’ve officially selected their squad for the 2017 International Weightlifting Federation World Weightlifting Championships, which is being hosted at the Anaheim, California Convention Center from November 28 through December 5.

While we’ve always put up a good fight, the USAW has experienced a “12-year medal drought” when it comes to the World Championships, according to USAW CEO Phil Andrews — one they hope to break this year. “The squad that’s been assembled has a very good chance of doing just that,” he continues. Selection procedures allow for 12 athletes of each gender to be chosen for the squad. Eight of each will be chosen to compete in Anaheim — something that will be determined as the competition approaches. So, who made the cut this year? You can expect quite a performance on the platform…

The men include record-smasher CJ Cummings, Ian Wilson, Nathan Damron, Wes Kitts and Caine Wilkes. Women include Jenny Arthur, Morghan King, Jessica Lucero, Sarah Robles, Mattie Rogers and Maddy Myers. You can view the full lists here.

THE WAIT IS OVER! We’ve named our squad for the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim! >> https://t.co/IRcdGyImIV pic.twitter.com/AI6jxSM7TH

— USA Weightlifting (@USWeightlifting) September 14, 2017

USAW Associate Director of Sport Lance Williams said of their picks, “We’ve assembled a squad that we think has a great shot of winning medals on the world stage,” later adding that it wasn’t easy to choose the athletes: “We are very proud of these athletes, we’re also proud of the athletes we weren’t able to put on the squad. It’s a good problem to have so many great athletes that could be competitive at this level, but we had to leave at home. (Alprazolam) ” The sport certainly has become more competitive, and the athletes are getting younger and younger.

#Repost @hookgrip (@get_repost) ??? @mattiecakesssss (69kg, @hookgripusa) snatching 100kg/220lb at last month’s 2017 Pan Ams where she went 100/133/233 to take silver. As a University student and as the 2017 University Nationals Champion, she was eligible to participate today at the 2017 Summer Universiade which was won with a 227kg total — 6kg under her total from Miami and 12kg under her 239kg American Record. But as it is a meet which USAW does not fund (fully paid for by the athletes) and she’s focused on 2017 Worlds, she elected to not compete today in Taiwan.

A post shared by Mattie Rogers ? (@mattiecakesssss) on Aug 23, 2017 at 7:32am PDT

One lift can make a difference. No matter how Far behind you are in a competition just remember one thing can make a huge difference @reebok @earthfedmuscle @2poodperformance @eleikosport @themarcpro @powerbar

A post shared by CJ Cummings??? (@cj__cummings) on Jun 18, 2017 at 4:48pm PDT

A tough choice it was, indeed; but their final picks are no strangers to the platforms — or medaling. Lifters like Cummings and Rogers have been known to destroy records (including their own) on a fairly consistent basis. There’s no doubt the USA will bring some good competition at the IWF this year.

Main image: USA Weightlifting/Facebook