WEBVTT

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- I think that the human body is amazing.

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(weights clank)

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It is a beautiful piece of machinery, and I don't think

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that a lot of us realize the untapped power that we have

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to create physiques.

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All of these things are completely possible

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though hard work.

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My name is Sydny Johnson, I'm a multimedia illustrator

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in the Army, and in my free time I like to life weights.

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Originally, I just started as a method to destress,

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so I would go into the gym and lift as heavy as I

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possibly could, as much as I possibly could,

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and when I realized the changes that were occurring

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in my body, I thought it would be cool to see

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how far I could go.

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I lift to win, you know, do better than my last set,

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do better than my last workout.

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I'm trying to conquer whatever weight is on the ground,

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(weights clanking)

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and it's really calming, and it helps me recenter myself,

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which is actually pretty interesting, because it can be

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a brutal sport.

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Lifting weights is heavy and it's hard.

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(laughing)

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(guitar music)

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So on Saturday was the competition.

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It was my very first one, so I really wasn't sure

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what I was going to be feeling when I went out on stage.

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But once I stepped out, and I heard all of the people

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that came to support me, all of my friends and family,

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it was an amazing experience.

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(applauding)

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I just want to say again how thankful I am for my

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support system.

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I've had my friends pushing me in the gym this whole time,

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and my family has been very understanding of the grueling

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schedule, and I'm so, so grateful.

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I think that absolutely giving your best, and doing better

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than you did the day before is winning for yourself.

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It doesn't have to be a competition against anyone else

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but yourself, and if you can improve yourself you've won.

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- [Announcer] The certificate is awarded to Sydny Johnson.

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Thank you.
(cheering)