Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing. Cheryl was undefeated as a junior weightlifter. 
Meet Cheryl Haworth
Cheryl was born in Savannah, Georgia, the middle daughter of Sheila and Robert Haworth. Her father, a businessman, and her mother, a nurse, were both athletes and encouraged their daughters to play sports. Cheryl was sickly and thin as a toddler and suffered from allergies, ear infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia. After having her tonsils and adenoids removed at age 6, she gained weight, and family members and playmates began to notice her unusual strength. She initially became interested in weightlifting as a way to improve in softball.
Cheryl has an older sister, Beth, an accomplished musician, and younger sister, Katie, also a weightlifter. She recently graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a B.F.A. in Historic Preservation.
Why Root For Her?
Cheryl competed in weightlifting at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games – the first ever opportunity for women to do so – and earned the bronze medal at the age of 17. She earned the title of “Strongest Woman” in the United States, in 1998, at the age of 15 and holds all school-age, Junior, Senior and Pan-American records in her weight class of 75+ kg.
Performance Record
- 2004 Olympian
- 2006 World Championships fourth place
- 2005 World Championships bronze medalist
- 2000 Olympic bronze medalist in 75+ kg
- Nine-time consecutive National Champion weightlifter (1999-2007)