Uplifting venture

Weightlifter Ryan Milmoe finds he has all the right moves.

By: Sharon Robb, Sun-Sentinel Staff Writer
July 21, 2005

WEST PALM BEACH · Having a weightlifter in the family has its advantages.

"My family had company the other day and they asked me to bring all the bags in from the car," said 2004 Pine Crest graduate Ryan Milmoe. "I get asked to move and lift things a lot."

There have been a few mishaps at his parents' Fort Lauderdale home.

"I was lifting the other day in the garage and knocked a few framed pictures off the wall," Milmoe said. "I just replaced it with another picture. I'm not sure they noticed yet."

Milmoe is a sophomore at Purdue majoring in aerospace engineering. He has an internship with General Electric Aircraft Engineers in Cincinnati waiting for him. He also has his heart set on making the 2008 Olympic team. He went to the trials in 2004 in St. Joseph's, Mo.

He is one of the many athletes competing at the Tropical Games of the Palm Beaches this weekend at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

The 10-sport festival features lower-profile Olym-pic sports. (Milmoe is quick to point out weightlifting is the third most watched sport at the Olympics.

The Tropical Games also can heighten awareness in Palm Beach County's Community Olympic Development Programs.

Other sports are boxing, chess, fencing, judo, karate, powerlifting, table tennis, taekwondo and wrestling.

"That's what makes the Tropical Games so great is that people can walk around to the various sports, watch and ask questions," Milmoe said. "It's a great way to get these sports exposed in this country. It has an Olympic feel to it."

The 5-foot-9, 149-pound Milmoe competes in the 69-kilogram class.

Milmoe had his best lift, 302½ pounds, recently at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. He is a member of Team Florida, coached by Rick Lansky in Sarasota.

Milmoe is a two-time junior national team member. He was a silver medalist at the 2005 Junior Nationals and first alternate on the Junior Pan American team. He started lifting his freshman year at Pine Crest.

"It was offered instead of taking physical education," Milmoe said. "I was getting sick of playing kickball. I caught on real quick."

As a prelude to the Tropical Games today and Friday, a Kids Fitness Festival will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for ages 5-12.

The Palm Beach County Sports Institute and CODP coaches and athletes will introduce the basics of more than 30 sports, including badminton, baseball, bowling, dance, karate, soccer, tennis and wrestling to more than 4,000 kids. There is also an expo showcasing healthy lifestyle products.