Cara Heads Slaughter, M.A., OLY

Cara Heads Slaughter is one of the most sought-after weightlifting coaches in the DC metro region providing guidance to over 100 athletes and coaches each week. Certified by USA Weightlifting as a Senior International Coach, Cara has served as a competition coach at every level- regional, national and international including coaching nine members of Team USA. Athletes under Cara's guidance have earned over fifty medals at national and international competitions. Cara earned a master's degree in sociology from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Additionally, Cara is certified as a IWF Coach Course Instructor and a USAW Coach Course Lead Instructor. Cara has been appointed by USA Weightlifting to assist at numerous USAW training camps, as a Team Leader and Team Coach of international teams, and as a two-time presenter at the USAW Coaching Symposium.

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In 2020, Cara successfully completed with Honors the International Coach Enrichment Certificate Program administered under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee's Olympic Solidarity Commission. As well, Cara served as a Community Ambassador of the Team USA Council on Racial and Social Justice to address the rules and systems in the Olympic and Paralympic movements that create barriers to progress.

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Cara enjoyed a successful 18-year career as an elite weightlifter, earning 2 junior and 8 senior national championship titles, setting numerous junior and senior American records, and representing Team USA at more than a dozen international events, including 6 world championships, 2 Pan American Games, and as a member of the 2000 USA Olympic Team in Sydney. In recognition of her career, Cara was inducted into the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame as a member of the 2020 class in the Athlete category.

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Throughout her career, Cara was provided the unique opportunity to train at top USA Weightlifting regional weightlifting training centers, including as a resident athlete at the Olympic Training Center, and to learn from some of the most respected coaches in the United States, each having coached multiple Olympians- Tony Ciarelli, Michael Cohen, Bob Morris, and Dr. Kyle Pierce.

Prior to competing in the sport of Weightlifting full-time, Cara was a Division I collegiate athlete, earning an athletic scholarship at the University of California, Berkeley. As a freshman, Cara competed in the discus and hammer throw, placing third in the hammer at the (Pac-10) track & field conference championships.

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Highlights:

9 athletes selected to Team USA

3 Junior Pan American Champions

15 medalists at international competitions

17 National Champions (2 Youth, 7 Junior, 1 Senior, 7 Masters)

30+ medalists at national championships

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Team USA Pan Ams (Team Leader 2017)

Team USA Junior Pan Am Games (Athlete Coach 2021)

Team USA Junior Worlds (Athlete Coach 2014-2016, 2020-2023)

Team USA Junior Pan Ams (Athlete Coach 2015, 2016, 2020-2023)

Team USA Youth Worlds (Athlete Coach 2017, 2019-2021)

Team USA Youth Pan Ams (Athlete Coach 2017-2021)

Team USA Youth Pan Ams (Women's Head Coach/Asst. Team Leader 2014)

Team USA XL Torneo Internacional "Manual Suarez in Memorium" (Athlete Coach 2022)

Team USA Rogue Weightlifting Challenge at ASF (Athlete Coach 2020)

Team USA Las Vegas International Open (Athlete Coach 2019)

Masters World Championships (Athlete Coach 2013)

Masters World Cup (Athlete Coach 2015)

USA Olympic Team Trials (Athlete Coach 2016)

National Championships (2014-2024)

National Junior Championships (2014-2018, 2020-2024)

National Youth Championships (2017-2022, 2024)

​National Masters Championships (2013, 2015, 2020, 2022-2024)

National University/U25 Championships (2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022-2024)

American Open/Finals (2013-2022)

Canadian Senior Championships (2019)

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Coach/Instructor Certifications

USA Weightlifting Senior International Coach

IOC International Coach Enrichment Certificate Program (2019-2020)

IWF Coach Course Instructor

USAW Coach Course Lead Instructor

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USA Olympic Team (2000)

USA Olympic Team Trials (2000, 2004, 2008)

Team USA Senior World Championships (1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005)

Team USA Junior World Championships - Bronze medalist (1997)

​Team USA Pan Am Games - Silver Medalist (1999)

​Team USA Pan Am Games (2003)

Team USA NACACI Championships - Gold Medalist (1997)

Team USA Silver Dragon Championships - Silver Medalist (1997)

Team USA Copa Guatemala Championships - Gold Medalist (1995 & 1997)

Titan Games Champion (2004)

Senior National Champion (1997, 1998, 2000, 2002–2005, 2008)

Junior National Champion (1995 & 1996)

Best Lifter at National Junior Championships (1996)

American Open Champion (1999, 2002–2004, 2007)

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