Hidilyn Diaz did something that Filipino sports fans have been hoping for these past decades, and it was winning that elusive Olympic gold medal for the Philippines. Most fans thought that a Filipino boxer would win that gold, but politics threw our boxers a curveball. One too many. On the other hand, no one looked at women's weightlifting. And no one invested in it. But Diaz did.
A veteran of four Olympics, the native of Zamboanga was hoping to qualify for her fifth Olympics. But her weight division was scrapped. She must move up, but she might not have time on her side. Or her age catched up. Diaz will be 37 years of age when the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will be held. She can't tell what the future holds.
"I will still lift," Diaz said. "Right now, I have to enjoy the moment. I will pursue what I have started, training and serving our athletes in the future.”
Elreen Ando and Vanessa Sarno took over Diaz's place.
Both Ando and Sarno competed in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup in Phuket, Thailand last April, which served as a qualifying tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Both garnered enough qualifying rankings to make it to Paris. Both Pinay weightlifters have done well in the Asian stage, with Sarno winning the 71 kilogram division in the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championship. Does it give them a fighting chance? Yes.
Pinoy fans are unaware of the fact that only 12 weightlifters can contest the Olympic medals at stake. That would be an achievement by itself. However, training hard won't be good enough. Both Ando and Sarno must want it badly, such that they are willing to bleed for it. In short, they must risk injury to achieve that seemingly improbable dream.
There are other factors to consider. For instance, Sarno might benefit from the absence of Liao Guifang. The reigning world champion in the women's 71 kilogram division was left off the Chinese team. Politics might've played a part, but Sarno, a native of Tagbilaran, Bohol, hasn't had her work cut out. Yet.
Women's 59 kilogram division
Who will win: Luo Shifang (China)
Who should win: Maude Charon (Canada)
Dark horse: Kamila Konotop (Ukraine)
Women's 71 kilogram division
Who will win: Olivia Reeves (USA)
Who should win: Angie Palacios (Ecuador)
Dark horse: Vanessa Sarno (Philippines)
Maude Charon became the second Canadian weightlifter to win an Olympic gold medal after dominating the rest of the field in Tokyo 2020. She has a good chance of defending her Olympic title successfully, but she faces a formidable foe in Luo Shifang. The Chinese ace won the gold in the 2023 World Weightlifting Championship, and the Chinese women have been dominant in weightlifting for years. Fans would love to see a close call between these two, though.
Olivia Reeves won the IWF World Cup last April, which should give her the slight edge over the other weightlifters in the 71 kilogram division. And she doesn't have to face Liao Guifang. Reeves finished second in the 2023 World Weightlifting Championship.
The American also won the gold at the 2023 Pan American Games, which would give her an edge over Ecuadorian Angie Palacios. And she's 21 years of age. Some analysts may question our exclusion of Romanian Loredana Toma. She's a veteran (if compared to Sarno), and she has excelled in the world stage these past years. Some athletes want to outdo themselves in the Olympics, though. We see Sarne as one of those.
Your thoughts?
The Paris Expo Porte de Versailles will be the venue of the weightlifting competition. The women's 59 kilogram division will be held on August 8 while the women's 71 kilogram division will be held on August 9.
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