DESPITE COMMENDABLE efforts, John Ceniza, Elreen Ando, and Vanessa Sarno struggled to attain podium finishes in their respective weightlifting events at the 2024 Summer Olympics. The Filipino weightlifters competed from August 7 to 10 at the South Paris Arena 6 in Paris, France.
John Ceniza
Ceniza entered the Men’s 61kg category as an Olympic debutant with a 300kg qualification total. The 26-year-old posed as a worthy competitor in his field after bagging silver medals at the Southeast Asian Games in 2019 and 2023. However, a shoulder injury that has been plaguing Ceniza months before the tournament hindered the weightlifter from performing up to his usual capabilities in Paris. Amid his exerted efforts, the Filipino was quickly eliminated with a Did Not Finish (DNF) in the snatch portion after he failed three attempts at 125kg.
Elreen Ando
Perceived as the future of Philippine weightlifting, Ando gained the attention of many after topping Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz in the IWF World Cup in Thailand last April. With a final tally of 228kg, the Filipina weightlifter finished seventh in the tournament, compared to Diaz’s 11th-placed ranking.
In her outing at the quadrennial meet, Ando became the only Philippine weightlifter in the Paris event to compete in the clean and jerk portion after registering a successful 100kg snatch in the Women’s 59kg category. After failing her first two tries in the clean and jerk, the 25-year-old triumphantly recorded a new personal best at 130kg on her third and final attempt. She ended her bid on a high note with a total of 230kg, which placed her sixth overall.
Vanessa Sarno
The 20-year-old Sarno had secured her Olympic debut in the Women’s 71kg event of the IWF World Cup, where she shattered the previously held national and personal record of 108kg with an impressive 110kg snatch.
Similar to Ceniza, however, Sarno crashed out early in the competition, posting a DNF after three unsuccessful attempts at lifting 100kg in the snatch portion.
The weightlifting event was the second-to-last sporting competition for the Philippine Centennial Team in the Paris Olympics, with golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina capping the nation’s memorable appearance.
