Sarno shrugs off high fever, bags 3 golds

MANILA, Philippines — Vanessa Sarno’s young legend continues.

Just a couple of days after being hospitalized due to high fever, Sarno cast her long, intimidating shadow in the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Delhi-NCR, India by sweeping all three gold medals in the women’s 71-kilogram class yesterday.

Still fatigued and short of her full strength, the 19-year-old Asian senior and Southeast Asian Games champion from Tagbilaran, Bohol did just enough in ruling the snatch, clean and jerk and total with 95kg, 121kg and 216kg, respectively.

The feat was made more special by Sarno, touted as the heiress to Tokyo Olympics gold winner Hidilyn Diaz, deciding not to heed her doctor’s advice to skip the event.

“From ICU to the podium. She’s (Sarno) willing to die for the country. Grabe,” an emotional Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella told The STAR.

Sarno’s magnificence capped the 11-strong Philippine team’s spectacular performance with a whopping total haul of 19 golds.

“Nineteen golds in seven days. Ten of 11 of our lifters got medals. Onwards to the LA Olympics 2028,” said Puentevella.