In Memoriam

Spencer Tsai

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Remembering Spencer Tsai

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We’re saddened to hear of the passing of Brooklyn Training Hall athlete, Spencer Tsai.

Spencer was an accomplished Masters athlete within our weightlifting community. In 2020 he won the Pan American Masters Championships. In 2022 he won both the Masters National and the World Masters Championships. Just recently Spencer won the 2023 Masters National Championships sweeping gold across the board. In 2019 Spencer also broke the New York State records in the 40-year-old Masters Men category while lifting in the 73 kg weight class – his 98 kg snatch, 123 kg clean and jerk, and 220 kg total still stand as the current records. In addition to excelling in his lifting, Spencer was a teammate who offered encouragement between lifts in training, an athlete who took his coach’s advice to heart, and a weightlifter who gave each lift everything he had on the competition platform.

Spencer was a supportive pillar in the New York City weightlifting community. He was very active as an athlete, a coach, and a technical official for nearly 10 years. Outside of winning championships and setting records, Spencer was a wonderful human being. He was a friend to many and a loving son.

We know this is a difficult time for those who knew him closely. To those in mourning, we’re sorry for your loss and for the loss of a member of our shared community. We’d like to encourage you to now think of fond memories of Spencer and to share stories of him with one another. A memorial was held at the Brooklyn Training Hall on Sunday, March 26th, 2023. This was a public memorial where many gathered to celebrate the life of Spencer Tsai.

It’s important for everyone within our community to remember that there are many resources available should you be going through a difficult time and need someone to talk to. If you’d prefer to speak with someone anonymously, USA Weightlifting has a partnership with BetterHelp – an online platform that will pair you with a licensed therapist. Your NY WSO representatives are also here to listen if you’d prefer to speak with someone within our community.

Click here to learn more about BetterHelp.

Spencer will be dearly missed and our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family during this difficult time.