Filipina weightlifting star Vanessa Sarno during an appearance at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 in Manila. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Filipina rising star Vanessa Sarno earned her way into her first-ever Olympic Games appearance following her performance during the International Weightlifting Federation World Cup in April.

The 20-year-old, who is currently ranked fifth in the world, punched her ticket to the Paris Games after tallying 110kg in snatch and 135kg in clean and jerk. Her total of 245kg was good for a fifth place finish in the tournament, maintaining her place in the top 10 of the qualifying rankings.

And now that she is headed into July's Paris Games, Sarno is eager to take it all the way to the Olympics' women's weightlifting podium.

READ: Weightlifter Vanessa Sarno secures Paris Olympics berth

"Goal ko po talagang mag-medal sa Olympics. Sa lahat po kasi, iniisip nila na as first timer pag Olympics, lahat sinasabi na for exposure lang," she said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum in Manila on Tuesday morning.

"Gusto ko pong i-break yung mentality na ganun. As first timer po, kaya namang mag medal," continued the Tagbilaran City, Bohol native, who also shared her humble beginnings of learning the sport before she went on to make a name for herself here and at the international level.

"Yung una po, [kasama ko] mga pinsan kong lalaki. Sila po yung mga kalaro ko after school, kaya nadala po nila ako sa weightlifting. Start pa lang, weightlifting na po, wala na po talagang ibang sport," she revealed in a separate interview.

"Yung weightlifting po noon, ginawa naming hobby. After school, dun po kami naglalaro. Hindi po namin alam na makakapunta kami ng iba't-ibang lugar sa Pilipinas."

"Naka punta po kami sa Batang Pinoy, dun po kami natuwa, at dun po namin nagustuhan yung weightlifting," she added.  

Sarno continued to live up to her potential moving forward, as aside from getting a spot in the Summer Games, she also clinched golden victories as a teenager during the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Uzbekistan and the 31st and 32nd Southeast Asian Games, as well as a silver finish during the Asian Championships in South Korea.  

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas President Monico Puentevella praised Sarno as well as fellow Olympians Elreen Ando and John Ceniza, saying they are even better than Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz when she was their age.

READ: Sacrifices worth it for Vanessa Sarno after earning Olympic berth

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas’ President Monico Puentevella with Paris Olympic-bound athletes Vanessa Sarno, Elreen Ando, and John Ceniza at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum in Manila on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.  Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

"Isang factor that tumutulong sa kanila, yung miracle na nagawa in Hidilyn," the former Mayor of Bacolod City said. "Kasi at their age now, they are better than Hidilyn before. Si Hidilyn kasi has inspired all of them."

As for Sarno, she is opting to see this as added inspiration.

"Hindi ko naman po siya tine-take as pressure. Ginagawa ko po siya as inspiration and motivation po. Nakaka overwhelm po, pero hindi ko siya tinitignan as pressure," she expressed. 

And now that she is set to compete on the world's brightest stage, Sarno said that it would be her mentality that can spell the difference between her and her opponents. 

"Yung sa mentality ko po ngayon. Alam ko po sa sarili ko na kaya ko pong i-improve pa po yung standing ko po ngayon. Sa ngayon kasi na nag qualify kami, back to zero kaming lahat. Hindi po namin alam kung sino yung malakas."

"Yung mananalo, sa laro na po malalaman."

Sarno, Ceniza, and Ando will continue with their training as the Olympics nears. They are seeking to train in Taipei right before they fly to Paris for their official training camp there. 

"We intend for them to train like Hidilyn Diaz when she trained in China, but they have been very lukewarm," said Puentevella of the Chinese Embassy. 

"Mahina ang aming negosasyon sa Chinese Embassy. So now, I have resorted to Taipei. Maski for one month lang sa Taipei. I would like them to try training for a month, now I'm waiting for the response from them."

"Athletes like weightlifters should be acclimated to the weather longer. That's why I'm glad that they're going to Paris a month earlier. Dire-diretso na yun. If they will go to Taipei, then Cebu, then Paris," he continued.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas President Monico Puentevella at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Manila. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Despite this, Puentevella is also pleading to the Philippine Sports Commission and its chairman, Dickie Bachmann, for added support for the Paris-bound trio.

"The Olympians should be treated distinctly. They should be treated differently from the National athletes," he said.

"Olympians should be given more than Php 5,000 per month for meals. It's not the right way, you should treat Olympians differently from National athletes. I have to be honest."

"Yun lang ang gusto kong ipa-abot with all due respect," Puentevella ended.

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