Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Cooper Robinson

Sarasota junior Cooper Robinson showcased his strength at the Class 3A boys weightlifting state championships on April 12 at RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

Robinson, who also plays offensive line for the Sailors football team, started weightlifting as a sophomore last year, but found breakthrough success this year. 

Leading up to the state championships, Robinson (Unlimited weight class) placed second in the Olympic-style lift with a 520-pound total in districts and fourth in the traditional-style lift with a 645-pound total. 

At regionals, he placed fifth in Olympic (500-pound total) and sixth in traditional (625-pound total). 

In the biggest meet of the year, Robinson posted some of his best results. He finished sixth in the 3A championships in the Olympic category with a total lift of 515 pounds and eighth in the traditional category with a total lift of 640 pounds (350-pound bench press, 290-pound clean and 225-pound snatch). 

When and why did you start weightlifting? 

Coach Thor (Miller) used to be a football coach here. He made me do (weightlifting), but then I started to like it. I had fun with my friends, so that’s why I stayed. I also did it because I wanted to get stronger, and it did. It made me a lot stronger and more explosive.

What’s been the most memorable moment this season?

Probably the long car rides to regionals and states with my friends. We got lost along the way and it was like an hour excursion driving down this long shell road. My friend was giving me the wrong directions.

What’s your favorite all-time wrestling memory?

Either placing in state or staying at the hotels the night before meets. That was really fun.

What went right for you this year?

Last year my season ended pretty early. My dad took me out of it for personal reasons. This year I put in work with the football team and went to the gym. That got me a lot stronger. My form also got better with the help of coach Thor.

What made this year’s team special?

We all wanted the same thing. I liked how dedicated we all were. We wanted to win, and we tried really hard working in the weight room. That’s what I liked the most. 

What’s your favorite meal?

Cheeseburgers. I’ll eat them from anywhere and I make them at home, too. I like them with lettuce, onion, cheese and mayo with fries on the side. I eat a lot of stuff though.

What’s your favorite TV show or movie?

Lately my friend got me into watching Invincible. It has superheroes, fighting and its action-packed.

What’s your go-to warm-up song?

I don’t listen to music when I lift. I’ve tried it. In fact, I tried it before regionals, but that was probably one of my worst meets of the season, when I listened to music before. But I was also waiting around for hours before it too. When I’m in the car, I’ll listen to music though. My favorite rapper is Kendrick Lamar and my favorite singer is Bruno Mars.

If you’re not lifting weights or playing football, what are you doing?

I like to bake. I like eating sweets, so I’m gonna make them. I make cookies and brownies all the time. At least once a week. I like to play video games too.

What’s been your most humbling moment in weightlifting?

Seeing how big people are at states. Because working up to districts, I was pretty much dominating, but Manatee had a really good lifter. So by that point, I was never getting first place. At states, a lot of these guys were like 6-foot-6 with receding hairlines and beards. 

Do you have a favorite weightlifter?

It’s not something I watch, but since freshman year, coach Thor has really inspired me. Now we’re about the same strength, so we compete against each other now. Sophomore year, the seniors here, I looked up to them a lot. I miss them.

Finish this sentence. Cooper Robinson is…

The Vanilla Gorilla. That’s the nickname my teammates have given me.