Lifting Makes Me – Alisa Rothstein

Alisa Rothstein's lifting journey began in the hallway of a local CrossFit gym on the west coast of Sweden, waiting for her mother to finish up her CrossFit class. Today, she is far from your average teenager. At 17, Alisa is the Nordic weightlifting champion and the Swedish and Nordic record holder in the youth weight class with her sights set on the biggest stage of all: the Olympic Games. In an exclusive interview with Eleiko, Alisa shares what lifting has taught her about life, her quest to perfect the snatch and what motivates her to improve and evolve - on and off the weightlifting platform.

How did your interest in weightlifting begin?

I’ve been very active all my life. When I was 12, my mother started training at Crossfit Halmstad, and a few years later, I started in the Crossfit Kids group twice a week after tennis and gymnastics. Gabriel Spångfors, a coach at CrossFit Halmstad, immediately saw my potential. We started weightlifting together once a week. At first, it was just a fun thing: but soon, I was completely sold. That “once a week” quickly turned into more, and sometimes, I actually skipped my Crossfit class to lift instead.

In what ways has lifting impacted your life? 

Weightlifting is a priority for me to feel well, to feel at peace - both physically and mentally. I never miss a training session and give my all, even on days when I am tempted to skip. School and my studies come first, and then weightlifting. It has been essential for me to learn how to structure my day, set goals, prioritize, and find a balance between social life, school and training. I’ve also earned so much respect for people that work hard to reach their goals, whether it be at the gym, at work or at school. I know first-hand how much blood, sweat and tears is behind it all, and that’s very inspiring to me. 

How has the competition experience been for you?

In the spring of 2019, I was a debutant at the 16th International Women Weightlifting Grand Prix in Slovenia, where I finished in first place with 67 kg in snatch and 86 in clean and jerk, leading to my qualification to the Swedish and Nordic weightlifting championships. At my first international competition representing Sweden, I won the gold medal and became Nordic weightlifting champion in my weight class, with 75 kg in snatch and 92 kg in clean and jerk. To wear blue and yellow and represent Sweden for the first time at only 16 years old – and come first! - was just an incredible experience.

What inspires you to continue training and competing?

The realization that hard training generates great results. To have a strong mindset when you train six days a week is hard, but when I see my development, it makes me want to work even harder. I’m also a big technique nerd. With weightlifting, there is always so many technical aspects to work on and perfect. I love the feeling when I really nail the snatch!

Can you tell us a bit about the atmosphere at your club, CrossFit Halmstad?

It’s very familiar and friendly - like a second home. It’s full of people of all training levels, but we all have something in common: we work and train hard to reach our goals. For me, it’s a comfort to be surrounded by people that share this passion and lifestyle, even if our goals are slightly different. I always leave Crossfit Halmstad feeling inspired, peppy - and tired! 

How do you prepare yourself best for competitions? 

A positive mindset is my best weapon - that and good sleeping and eating patterns. I spend lots of time by the ocean, reflecting and reminding myself that I have prepared for the competition the best way I could. Before hitting the competition stage, I like to listen to music - especially hiphop - to get in the right vibe. Once I’m up there, I am entirely in the present. It’s only me and the barbell.

Who is your lifting role model? 

My parents and my sister. All three of them train several times a week - simply because they think it’s fun! I also look up to Angelica Roos, a fellow Swedish weightlifter. She is a successful athlete, but still very humble and always takes time to help me and others when we train. My coaches Gabriel Spångfors and Philip Rodrigues at CrossFit Halmstad are also huge inspirations to me. 

What’s next for Alisa Rothstein?

I want to become the best version of myself, both in my sport and in life. To continue working hard in school and compete at the European and World championships, with my ultimate goal of competing in the Olympics. But I know that the most important journey is the journey there - to charge headfirst into my training every day, and to enjoy the ride. Be present, and don’t think too far ahead. Just take every day - every lift - at a time.