Jim Schmitz - Olympic Weightlifting

I've been training with Jim for a few months now and it has been a great experience so far. I usually feel a little intimidated when I walk into a new gym I've never been to especially if it is not a commercial gym but Jim and his lifters were very welcoming and Jim guided me on what to do and walked me through his program from day 1. It's a friendly community and you will get a good workout in and learn a lot. It is not an everyday opportunity to get coached by someone who coached team USA in the Olympics.

I drop in every once in a while to lift at the Sports Palace and it’s always a pleasure! Jim is so experienced, is a good coach from beginners to elite and has a lot of stories to boot. I always appreciate learning about the history of weightlifting as a sport and Jim’s role in it. Recommend if you’re close to south SF and looking for a great place to lift with friendly folks!

Jim is a fantastic coach with decades of experience coaching elite-level athletes. He has a great sense of humor and is very welcoming to lifters of all skill levels. His style of coaching is very flexible and can be adjusted for injury or however you're feeling on a particular day. I started training with Jim as a complete beginner and really appreciate how uncomplicated he makes training. Jim himself has a trove of great stories and weightlifting memorabilia that he's more than happy to share with you. His community of lifters are all very friendly and it's a great environment to lift in.

Jim Schmitz is an amazing coach and an absolute legend in the Bay. He works with all skill levels and offers a lot of wisdom in coaching, training and competing. I was fortunate enough to train under Jim for few years when I got really into the sport. He will have different programs depending on the ability of the athlete and adjusts accordingly. We would train 2-4x a week, depending on our fitness and if we were targeting a local competition date. The crowd at the gym was great, as we had such a supportive and enthusiastic group. I would definitely recommend Jim to someone starting out in weightlifting as he is a treasure trove of funny jokes, weightlifting knowledge and history, and overall great coaching.

Jim is well respected as one of the most decorated and experienced weightlifting coaches in the country and still has a sense of grounded-ness and passion after all these years. I got my started with him and it has been a great experience. The team of athletes that train under him at the sports palace is also a great bunch of people. All very warm, dedicated to the sport, and willing to help. If you’re interested in weightlifting in the Bay Area, Jim is your guy.