John Ceniza’s Olympic debut ended in disappointment as he failed to register a lift in the men’s 61 kg weightlifting event at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Tuesday evening (Manila time) at the South Paris Arena 6.
The 26-year-old first-time Olympian had high hopes of making it to the podium, especially after a successful stint at the 2024 IWF World Cup in Pattaya, Thailand.
Ceniza’s impressive fourth-place finish at that event secured his spot in Paris and filled him with optimism.
With a personal best of 131 kg in the snatch, many expected Ceniza to perform well in the competition.
His decision to start at 129 kg indicated confidence, as this weight would place him in the top half after the snatch portion of the event. However, to the surprise of many, Ceniza approached the platform with 125 kg still on the bar.
Ceniza’s first attempt at 125 kg showed promise but ended in frustration as he couldn’t get the bar over his head.
His second attempt was marred by an overly swift execution that led to another failed lift.
Facing the pressure of elimination, Ceniza opted to stick with 125 kg for his third and final attempt.
Unfortunately, he met the same fate, failing to complete the lift and exiting the competition without a registered snatch.
The weightlifter from Cebu City was visibly disheartened after his attempts.
The Olympic stage, with its intense pressure and high stakes, had proved to be a formidable challenge.
Despite his best efforts, Ceniza couldn’t replicate the form that earned him success in previous competitions.
Meanwhile, Elreen Ando and Vanessa Sarno are next to compete in their respective weight classes on Thursday and Saturday.
They will aim to redeem Ceniza’s misfortunes and continue the Philippines’ Olympic medal streak in weightlifting.
