Vanessa Sarno’s much-anticipated Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games ended unexpectedly early, marking a disappointing turn in her promising weightlifting career.
The 20-year-old rising star from the Philippines faced a sudden exit in the women’s 71kg division at the South Paris Arena on Saturday morning (Manila time) after failing to complete a single lift in the snatch portion.
Sarno attempted to lift 100kg three times but was unsuccessful in all attempts, resulting in a Did Not Finish (DNF) for the event.
Sarno’s early exit was particularly surprising given her strong performance in the lead-up to the Olympics.
She ranked fourth in the International Weightlifting Federation’s (IWF) Olympic Qualification Ranking and had previously demonstrated her ability to lift heavier weights.
In April, she set a national record by lifting 110kg in the snatch at the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand.
Additionally, she holds the Southeast Asian Games record in the snatch with a lift of 105kg, where she is a two-time gold medalist.
This result mirrored the fate of her teammate John Ceniza, who also recorded a DNF in the men’s 61kg category after failing to complete a successful lift in the snatch.
Elreen Ando was the only Filipino weightlifter among the three who qualified for the Olympics to finish her event, placing sixth in the women’s 59kg class.
Olivia Reeves of the United States lived up to expectations as the favorite, securing the country’s first Olympic weightlifting gold since the 2000 Sydney Games with a total lift of 262kg.
Colombia’s Mari Sanchez took the silver with a total of 257kg, while Ecuador’s Angie Palacios earned the bronze with a 256kg total.
