Boholana is world’s top junior lifter

CEBU, Philippines — A Boholana athlete is currently the world’s top junior weightlifter in her category.

In the latest rankings by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), Vanessa Sarno from Tagbilaran City is rated No.1 in the women’s junior 71 kg category with a best lift of 229 kg.

The 17-year-old Sarno first made an impression when she minted three of the country’s 12 gold medals at the 2018 Indonesia Weightlifting Championships in Bali.

One year later, she delivered two gilts and a silver at the 2019 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Pyongyang, North Korea.

At the height of the pandemic last year, Sarno managed to catch the headlines and make the country proud with her golden treble in the virtual 2020 IWF Online Youth World Cup hosted by Peru.

Sarno followed it up with two golds and one silver at the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

With her shining accomplishments, Sarno boosted her stock as heir apparent to her idol, 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz.