Elreen Ando filled with pride after Paris Olympics showing

Philippines’ Elreen Ann Ando reacts as she competes in the women’s -59kg weightlifting event during the Paris Olympics at the South Paris Arena in Paris, on August 8, 2024. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines—Team Philippines weightlifter Elreen Ando may have missed out on another medal in her second straight Olympics stint, but she went out with her head held high.

Ando salvaged a sixth-place finish in the Paris Olympics women’s weightlifting 59kg competition after powering through to complete her final attempt in clean and jerk at 130 kilograms.

She set a new personal best by two kilograms and improved from seventh in the Tokyo Games.

“Hindi naman siya ganoon talaga kapangit ‘yung performance. Proud pa rin ako sa sarili ko kasi nag-improve pa rin ako tapos nakapag-PR pa rin po ako,” Ando told ONE Sports in Filipino.

“Parang naiyak ako na nakuha ko ‘yung 130kg tapos naiyak din ako kasi siyempre, kahit ganoon ka-pangit ‘yung laro ko, nag-improve pa rin po ako.

Elreen Ando’s performance in the Paris Olympics 2024 women’s 59kg weightlifting competition.

(It’s not that bad of a performance. I’m proud of myself because I still improved, plus I recorded a new PR. I was emotional when I got the 130kg  because of course, despite having a bad outing, I still improved.)

The 25-year-old weightlifter totaled 230kg.  In Tokyo, Ando finished with a total of 222kg.

The podium-less outing, doesn’t take away from the amount of pride Ando has in herself now after representing the country as best she could.

“Proud ako sa sarili ko po kasi kahit hindi naman natin nakuha ‘yung first at saka second (in clean and jerk), at least po, naipaglaban natin ‘yung last attempt.” Ando said.

(I’m proud of myself because even if we didn’t get the first and second [clean and jerk attempts], at least, we fought it out in the last attempt.)