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Bruin Spotlight: Hye Kwang Kim
Hye Kwang Kim Getting Ready to Destroy this Back Squat.

Bruin Spotlight: Hye Kwang Kim

BY VINNY LAVALSITI
UCLA Comp Sports Beat Writer
 
It's no secret. Third-year biology major and powerlifter Hye Kwang Kim can bench press like a beast.
 
In his last competition in March, Kim racked 303 pounds. That's quite a bit considering Kim only weighs 163 pounds – benching nearly double his bodyweight.
 
But what Kim does for his teammates has incalculable importance for UCLA's club powerlifting squad.
 
Kim has taken eight fellow powerlifters under his wing and has helped them in their weight training programs. That consists of detailed lifting schedules and plans for each of the powerlifters.
 
"I definitely enjoy (programming) a ton," Kim said. "It's time-consuming in the sense that when people lift, they send me videos and I have to give them video analysis and tell them what they're doing and not doing wrong… I enjoy creating these relationships with people, helping them get stronger and (get to) where they want to be at."
 
Club President and third-year computer engineering major Brian Raymond said that Kim's contributions takes some weight off his shoulders.
 
"(It helps) in the sense that having him be able to help new members and old members with programming, with form, with technique," Raymond said.
 
Kim does all of this while attempting to go into Pre-Med and heading a club based in the Westwood community.
 
Warner Avenue Teacher's Assistants assists children at Warner Avenue Elementary School who have immigrated to the United States recently. Kim helps the children in every subject possible to ensure a smooth transition to the English language.
 
Lifting, just like many things, takes time to improve at. Rome wasn't built in a day is a motto Kim takes to heart and applies to many aspects of his life.
 
"(Powerlifting) almost keeps me accountable to realizing there's no shortcut," Kim said. "It's not like someone's going to bench 135 and bench 315 the next day. It's a process. It's something I realized I have to apply to school (too)... In a way, it keeps me accountable to my studying, but especially now that I'm taking the MCAT next Friday, I can't cram for that test."
 
Thanks to his programming, Kim expects to hit all of the weights he has written down. It's only a matter of how difficult it is for him.
 
"There's just no question whether (Kim is) going to hit it," Raymond said. "The question is how easy he is going to make it look… It's always fun to give him that feedback and share with him in his excitement."

Kim is currently planning for the upcoming Collegiate Nationals competition in April after taking a short hiatus due to an elbow injury. Kim is shooting for a 330-pound lift on his bench and to improve on his back squat and deadlift.

 
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