MANILA -- Filipina weightlifter Vanessa Sarno is ecstatic after qualifying for the Olympic Games for the first time in her young sporting career.

Sarno, 20, finished in the top five of the Olympic Qualification Ranking of the women's 71kg weight class, comfortably within the top 10 that offers a ticket to the Summer Games later this year in Paris, France.

At the 2024 IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand on Sunday night, Sarno lifted a total of 245kg. In the snatch event, she achieved a new personal best of 110kg, and in the clean and jerk, she cleared 135kg.

Sarno later shared that her feat came as a shock, as she struggled in the week leading up to the competition which served as the last qualifier to the Paris Olympics.

READ: Weightlifter Vanessa Sarno secures Paris Olympics berth

"Hindi ko in-expect na mabubuhat ko yun kasi week before ng game is hirap na ako buhatin kahit yung personal record ko lang. Di ko kayang buhatin sa training—108(kg). Adrenaline lang at saka puso," said Sarno. 

"'Yung nasa isip ko lang that time is buhatin ko lang yung dapat kong gawin at saka yung tamang pagbuhat ng snatch. Lakas ng loob nalang talaga," she said.

"Sobrang saya. Worth it lahat ng pagod, ng sakit, ng sacrifice ko sa journey na ito. As in sobrang saya, mixed emotions nararamdaman ko after nung result ng Group A."

[I did not expect to lift that weight, because a week before the tournament, I had trouble lifting my personal record. I couldn't lift 108kg in training. This was all down to adrenaline and heart. All I could think of at the time is to just lift what I can and do the proper technique in the snatch. I'm so happy, and it's all worth it -- the exhaustion, the pain, the sacrifices in this journey.]

Before her triumph and joys, however, there were also hardships and sacrifices for the young lifter.

"'Yung mahiwalay ka sa family mo, yung wala kang time para sa kanila. Umuwi lang ako for Christmas and New Year lang and then bumalik ako ng Manila nang January, then di na ako umuwi kahit after nung Uzbekistan. Even before last year, after nung Riyadh, then Asian Games, umuwi ako ng Bohol nang 3 days lang," said Sarno, whose training base is in Rizal.

[I was away from my family and I had no time for them. I only went home for Christmas and New Year, and then I went back to Manila in January. I didn't return home after the Uzbekistan tournament. Even before last year, after the Asian Games, I only went back to Bohol for three days.]

Three Filipino weightlifters are now qualified for the Paris 2024—fellow first-time Olympian John Febuar Ceniza, and returning Olympian Elreen Ando, who also competed in Tokyo 2020.

Meanwhile, Rosegie Ramos is still waiting on the final qualifying list for her 49kg division. She is currently ranked 11 and needs to see if any of the top 10 will pull out of the Paris Games.

READ: Elreen Ando secures Olympic spot; Hidilyn Diaz misses out

READ: Pinoy weightlifter John Ceniza clinches Paris Olympics berth

Other Filipino athletes who have secured their places in the Paris Olympics are: pole vaulter EJ Obiena; boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas; and gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan.

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