Lifter Colonia boosts Rio de Janeiro Olympic bid

NESTOR Colonia boosted his stock for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro after seizing a bronze medal Sunday in the International Weightlifting Federation World Championship in Houston, Texas.

The 22-year-old pride of Zamboanga City placed third in the clean and jerk with a 158-kg lift but wound up fourth in the snatch (124) and total with 282 in the men’s 56-kg category.

Colonia’s bronze broke a long dry spell for the Philippines on the global stage since Salvador del Rosario won two gold medals (snatch, clean and jerk) in the 1970 world championship in Ohio.

Philippine Olympic Committee first vice president Joey Romasanta, the country’s chef de mission in the 2016 Games, said there was no confirmation yet if Colonia had qualified.

“We’re not yet sure about the status of Colonia,” said Romasanta.

Before leaving for Houston last week, Elbert Atilano, Colonia’s coach, said medalists in the world championship qualify directly to the Olympics.

Colonia, who achieved his 280-kg target in total lift, ranked fourth overall in his weight category behind Om Yun Chol of North Korea, Wu Jingbiao of China and Thach Kim Tuan of Vietnam. June Navarro