By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Weightlifters Vanessa Sarno and John Febuar Ceniza aim to break the narrative of Olympic first-timers as they gun for a podium finish in the 2024 Paris Games happening in a few months.
Sarno, a two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and an Asian champion, said she is not going to waste this rare opportunity to make heads turn in the global centerpiece event after going through hardships and challenges just to earn the coveted Olympic berth.
“Gusto kong i-break yung mentality na as a first-time, exposure lang ang habol. Syempre goal kong mag-medal sa Olympics,” a confident Sarno said in the PSA Forum on Tuesday, March 7.
Touted as the heir apparent of 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, the 20-year-old Bohol native said she feels more excited than pressured to compete in the sports’ biggest stage.
“Masaya na lahat yung pinaghirapan ko, nagbunga lahat dahil nag-qualify na ako sa Olympics, pero hindi lang natatapos dun,” said Sarno, who will compete in the women’s 71kg.
Ceniza echoed the same sentiment, adding that he is drawing strength from his life’s experiences where he had to fend for himself when he was young.
“Gagawin ko ang lahat para makamit yung medalya,” said the 26-year-old pride of Cebu.
He is also keeping in his mind the advice of Diaz during the team’s stint at the last Olympic qualifier in Phuket, Thailand last month, where Ceniza earned the berth to Paris.
“Sinabi lang niya (Diaz) na huwag isipin yung mga distraction katulad nung mga sinasabi ng mga ibang tao kasi hindi yun makakatulong sa amin,” said Ceniza, who will compete in the men’s 61kg.
Like Sarno and Ceniza, Cebuana standout Elreen Ando is also making sure that her second Olympics stint would not be put to waste.
“Kailangan double-time lang sa training para makuha ko yung goal ko na mag-medal sa Olympics,” said the 25-year-old, who will be competing in a lighter weight class at 59kgs after seeing action and finishing seventh in the women’s 64kg in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
