Vanessa Sarno says ‘toxic environment’ led to struggles in Paris

Team Philippines’ Vanessa Sarno competes during the women’s 71kg weightlifting event, at the Paris Olympics 2024, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara,Pool)

MANILA, Philippines—Team Philippines’ Vanessa Sarno had a rough outing on her Olympics debut.

After failing to complete her initial lift in snatch with 100kg and exiting the competition early, the 20-year-old Sarno was unable to give Team Philippines a medal in the Paris Olympics 2024 women’s weightlifting event.

However, what’s more intriguing is that Sarno said she felt she had already lost as early as her days in the training camp in Metz, France.

“Sobrang naging down at mahina ako kasi ‘yong time na start ng Metz training, [parang] do’n ako natalo. Sobrang hirap gumalaw na ‘yong mga tao sa paligid mo, di ka na komportable. Sila dahilan bakit parang nagkadepression na ko sa sport ko,” said Sarno in an interview with Filipino reporters in Paris.

READ: Vanessa Sarno apologizes for ‘unexpected’ Paris Olympics showing

(I became very down and weak, it felt like I already lost from the start of the Metz training. It was so hard to move knowing that the people around you make you uncomfortable. They were the reason I felt like I was getting depressed [about] my sport.)

“Sobrang toxic ng environment, pangit pag gano’n, pagdating ng preparation sa olympics kasi aminado ako na naging mahina mentality ko pagdating sa mga tao sa paligid ko na sobrang toxic.”

(The environment was so toxic and that wasn’t good. When it came to the preparations for these Olympics, I admit that my mentality got weak when it came to the people around me who were so toxic.)

Team Philippines’ Vanessa Sarno competes during the women’s 71kg weightlifting event, at the Paris Olympics 2024, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Despite having her personal best at 110kg, Sarno struggled with her starting weight at 100kg in snatch as she couldn’t execute a proper lift in all her three attempts.

Without specifying the reasons or naming people in the “toxic” situation she spoke of,  Sarno said that she felt like the people around her were waiting for her to fail.

READ: Vanessa Sarno makes early exit in Olympic debut

“No’ng papunta talaga sa training nung nawala na kami sa Manila, sobrang hirap kasi sobrang hina ng mentality ko na sobrang gusto ko na sumuko kasi sobrang toxic na ng environment na ando’n,” Sarno said.

“‘Di ko na kinakaya ‘yong mga tao na parang ramdam ko na ayaw nila na ando’n ko. Ramdam ko na gusto nilang ma-down ko.”

(When we left Manila for training, it was really tough because my mentality was so weak. I just wanted to give up because the environment had become so toxic. I couldn’t take those people who I felt didn’t want me there. I felt like they wanted my downfall.)

The environment’s toxicity, Sarno said, played a major role in pulling down her performance in the Paris Olympics.

“Kayang-kaya ko ‘yong 100, kahit nung nasa Manila kayang kaya ko sa training, sobrang nanghihnayang lang ako… nagpadala ako sa mga tao na nandodown sa’kin,” said Sarno.

(I could easily do 100, even when I was in Manila I could easily do them in training. I have a lot of regrets. I got carried away by the people who were bringing me down.)

In a message to the Inquirer, Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella said he didn’t know what Sarno meant by “toxic.”

“For now, let her performance speak for itself. She’s a young girl, it’s her first Olympics. She got the coach she wanted. She was out. She’s a young girl with a bright future and I don’t know what she means by toxic,” said Puentevella.

“Let’s enjoy our euphoria over our two golds…I will address this, trust me. I will fix things in two weeks, when we’re done celebrating. For now, what Caloy [Yulo] did was amazing and the country deserves to celebrate that. “