By: Warren Shiu, Staff Writer
Just over a year ago, Matthew Situ (12) entered the world of weightlifting, challenging himself to reach new heights in an activity where every ounce of strength counts.
Powerlifting wasn’t the path Situ initially envisioned for himself, but it quickly evolved into more than just a workout routine. After trying various sports over the years, lifting became the outlet where he could channel his efforts. No other activities resonated with him in the same way, which eventually led to the discovery of something new that truly excited him.
“Swimming kind of felt like something I didn’t want to do,” Situ stated. It was time for me to become a trailblazer, to follow my own path.”
Situ’s dissatisfaction with swimming brought forth a turning point. He knew he needed to pursue something that truly connected with him. This desire to find his own path is what pushed him to start weightlifting.
“The first time I stepped into the gym, it was a very inviting environment. Everyone helps each other out. But something I didn’t see was a lot of Asian lifters,” he pointed out.
The supportive environment Situ found in the gym fueled his want to continue. But as he spent more time lifting, he couldn’t help but notice the lack of representation of Asian lifters. This realization became the spark for him to find a way to express his cultural identity within the sport.
“I wanted to connect with a brand that promoted Asian heritage and inclusivity. And Fracture caught my eye, so I reached out to them,” he said.
By partnering with Fracture, a gym apparel brand inspired by East Asian media and culture, Situ found a way to combine his love for lifting with the comfort he has for his heritage. Through this collaboration, he shared this pride with others, giving students at Mills High an opportunity to support both his journey and culture.
While lifting became his primary focus, Matthew didn’t forget about his other passions.
“As a child, I’ve always been into cooking… I probably racked up hundreds of hours watching Gordon Ramsay and Bobby Flay.”
This love naturally blended with his new fitness lifestyle. He began sharing meal preparation videos online, demonstrating healthy eating habits needed for his diet regimen in a way that engaged his followers.
“My number one supporter would probably be my sister. She’s the one who got me into it, and she’s always seen how much I love doing this,” he explained.
Behind Situ’s growing presence, his sister has been his biggest cheerleader. Not only does she help film and edit his videos, but she also played a key role in buying a professional camera to improve the quality of his content. With her constant encouragement, Situ has built a solid foundation for both his fitness and content creation.
“I’m for sure going to continue through college, and through a lot of my life, until I really lose passion for powerlifting—which I find extremely hard.”
Looking ahead, Situ is confident his penchant for powerlifting will endure well beyond high school. As he enters college, he’s eager to continue his fitness journey with more freedom and opportunity, never forgetting the people who have supported him to get to where he is today, and knowing that his love for lifting runs deep.
“I know the old Matthew would be looking up at where I am today, thinking, ‘There’s no way I’ve come this far, especially in something I never thought I’d be so into,” he concluded.
If you want to continue following Situ’s story, follow @matt_lifts07 on Instagram!.
