Rising Star Vanessa Sarno Secures Olympic Berth
Back when Vanessa Sarno defended her title in the Southeast Asian Games in May last year, she expressed her ambition to win an Olympic medal. Her dream is now closer to reality as she secured her Olympic berth in the women’s 71kg class at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup in Phuket, Thailand.
Record-Breaking Performance
During the World Cup, Sarno, aged 20, broke her own national record by lifting 110kg in snatch and 135kg in the clean and jerk, achieving a total lift of 245kg. This remarkable performance placed her fifth in the tournament, which was the final qualifying event for Olympic weightlifting.
Formalizing Olympic Entry
Participation in the World Cup was crucial for Paris hopefuls like Sarno, as it solidified her position in the top 10 of the IWF Olympic Qualification Ranking (OQR). Her previous achievement of a 249kg total lift in the IWF Grand Prix in Doha also contributed to her Olympic qualification.
Philippines’ Weightlifting Contingent
With Sarno’s qualification, the Philippines is set to have its largest weightlifting contingent at the Olympics in almost four decades. She will be joined by John Ceniza in the men’s 61kg category and Elreen Ando in the women’s 59kg category in Paris. This will mark the first time since the 1988 Seoul Games that three weightlifters will represent the Philippines at the Olympics.
Rosegie Ramos, currently ranked 11th in the OQR for the women’s 49kg division, aims to secure her spot in Paris as well, pending the final qualification ranking. Other Filipino athletes who have already earned their Olympic berths include pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan, and boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, and Aira Villegas.