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closeLiving the dream
Bonney Lake local will compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing
Shaun Scott
Melanie Roach saw her biggest dream in the world become a reality.
Roach, a 33-year-old resident of Bonney Lake, put up 178.2 pounds in the snatch and 239.8 pounds in the clean and jerk at the U.S. Olympic weight lifting trials in the 117-pound weight class on May 17 in Atlanta, advancing to the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing, China. Roach will compete on Aug. 10.
“It was the most fantastic experience of my life,” Roach said. “Afterwards I did an interview with NBC and they ushered me down to the media room where all of my friends and family were. When that happened I instantly had tears of joy. It was a magical moment. My 7-year-old son Ethan asked me, ‘Mom, why are you crying?’ I told him I was crying because I was happy. It was a fantastic day.”
Not even Roach could have envisioned this day happening after suffering a career-threatening back injury eight years ago prior to the opening of the 2000 Summer Olympic trials.
“At the Olympic trials eight years ago, I was just sitting in the stands crying. At that point I didn’t realize I would be competing competitively in weight lifting again,” Roach said. “Making the Olympics eight years later after having three kids is a pretty special feeling.”
After missing her opportunity to compete in the Olympics in 2000, she spent the next five years focusing on her family and her career. Roach and her husband Dan had three children and opened up their own business, Roach Gymnastics in Sumner. Dan Roach is a member of the Washington State House of Representatives, as well.
After talking it over with her family, Roach decided to return to competitive weight lifting again in July of 2005. After suffering reoccurring back pain, Roach paid a visit to Federal Way chiropractor Greg Summers in March of 2006 in an effort to ease the pain she was experiencing. After getting two to three treatments a week, Summers recommended Los Angeles doctor Robert Bray Jr., who specializes in back surgery. Roach had the surgery done in October of 2006. Since the surgery, Roach said she’s felt as good as new. One year after the surgery, she earned a National Championship in 2007 in the 117-pound division.
Roach is hoping to bring home some hardware from Beijing in August, but stresses that it isn’t her ultimate goal.
“If I’m on the medal stand at the end of the day that’s great,” Roach said. “More importantly, I want to give it my best and represent Bonney Lake as well as I can. I’m having the time of my life right now.”
Roach’s weight lifting coach John Thrush was ecstatic to see her dream finally come to fruition. Thrush has coached Roach for the past 14 years.
“Mel has been through a lot in the past. From her injury (in 2000) to finally getting where she wants to be instead of the wheels falling off is great. It’s extremely hard to get to the Olympics. I’m pleased it’s going to happen.”
Thrush believes Roach’s work ethic is the primary reason why she made the U.S. Olympic team.
“Her ability to focus on a goal and find out what it takes to get there is very impressive. When she wants something she goes after it. She’s so focused and that’s not only in weight lifting, it’s in all aspects of her life. She does things the right way,” Thrush said. “There’s a lot of athletes out there who want something but aren’t willing to put in the work; Mel puts it all on the line every single day.”
Roach credits Thrush for getting her to where she is today.
“He’s taught me everything I know,” Roach said. “He’s been coaching for 35 years and I’m his first athlete to go to the Olympics. I told him after I qualified at the Olympic trials that this was for him.”