Rising early, Sarno grabs three gold medals

Vanessa Sarno

Vanessa Sarno had to readjust her sleep schedule to participate in an international online meet.

“I slept and woke up early since it started at 5 a.m.,” she said, adding she would stop at nothing to follow the path that Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz took.

The 17-year-old from Tagbilaran City, Bohol province, reaped the rewards of her discipline on Tuesday, clinching three gold medals in the International Weightlifting Federation Online World Youth Championship hosted by Peru.

Sarno, a double gold medalist in last year’s Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships, swept the three events in the women’s 71 kilograms category with a 93kg lift in the snatch and 118kg tally in the clean and jerk for a total weight of 211kg.

“I always look up to her (Diaz) as inspiration to achieve my dream of competing in the Olympics someday,’’ Sarno said in Filipino.

On the day of the competition, Sarno had to deal with the wide time difference between Peru and the Philippines, which is 13 hours ahead.

“It was a struggle at first, but I was able to adjust as the competition went on,’’ said Sarno, who felt proud as the Philippine national anthem played during the early morning awarding ceremony.

Nigora Suvonova of Uzbekistan claimed three silver medals in the snatch (91kg), clean and jerk (117kg) and total (208kg) while Nancy Genzel Abouke of Nauru placed third in the three events with a 90kg effort in the snatch, 110kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 200kg.

Sarno’s feat boosted the country’s campaign in the world champs after sisters Rose Jean and Rosegie Ramos likewise bagged multiple medals on Sunday.

“Vanessa’s golden performance together with the Ramos sisters in the world youth championships reflect the future of Philippine weightlifting,’’ Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella said.

National coaches Ramon Solis and Gary Hortelano from Cebu, senior national coach Tony Agustin and Allen Diaz from Zamboanga have been working nonstop for their progress as well as coach Nicolas Jaluag from Bohol. INQ