Vanessa Sarno bows out early in Paris Olympic debut

Metro Manila, Philippines — Filipino weightlifter Vanessa Sarno made an early exit in her Olympic debut in Paris early Saturday morning, Aug. 10.

Sarno was unsuccessful in her three attempts in the snatch stage of the women’s 71-kilogram weight class and registered a “did not finish.”

The 20-year-old athlete from Bohol was tense from the get-go to lift 100 kilograms in one singular motion.

Olivia Reeves of the United States won the gold medal after picking up 117 kilograms in the snatch to post a new Olympic record. She lifted 145 kilograms in the clean and jerk round to score a total of 262 kilograms in the meet.

Colombia's Mari Leivis Sanchez placed second and Ecuador's Angie Paola Palacios Dajomes completed the podium.

Sarno secured her spot to the Paris 2024 Olympics after placing fourth in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Olympic Qualification Ranking.

She holds national records in women’s weightlifting, including the snatch at 110 kilograms, a feat she made during the IWF World Cup in Thailand in April this year.

She was a gold medalist at the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships and a two-time champion at the Southeast Asian Games.