Sophomore developing big TikTok following with weightlifting posts

Sophomore Isaiah Martin may have cerebral palsy, but that doesn’t stop him from achieving his weightlifting dream. After weeks of hard work and support from his TikTok fans, he is close to reaching his pinnacle achievement of lifting his own body weight.

Martin was initially inspired to post on his account after he noticed his cousin weightlifting and became a weightlifter to fulfill his childhood dreams. “As a kid, my cousin got me into it,” he said. “Then I posted on my TikTok account, and out of nowhere, I got 12,000 followers.”

The recent attention and support on Martin’s account have humbly moved him. “I was not expecting that at all. It was a miracle. I couldn’t be more grateful.” 

Martin’s greatest accomplishment in his weightlifting journey is deadlifting his own bodyweight. Right now, he can lift 85 pounds, just 10 pounds short of his weight. Martin is planning to reach this achievement of lifting his weight soon.

Although he has achieved great accomplishments, they come with challenges. In the time he has weightlifted, he has expressed concerns about hatred from peers online. “People can be unfriendly to me for the way I talk,” he said, “and to people with disabilities.”

Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects muscle movement, affecting things such as balance and posture. Sometimes someone with cerebral palsy can experience involuntary movements, which makes it difficult to do things such as weightlifting. But through it all, Martin has been moved by his faith and support, which helps him achieve the impossible. 

Those interested in his journey can follow his TikTok account: @isaiah_weights. And if you are facing any discouragement, Martin has a final parting message for our readers: “God loves you. God has a plan for you. And if you put your faith in God, then everything will be OK.”