Born to be an Olympian

Samahang Weightlifting Ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella has high hopes for 71kg world junior champion Albert De los Santos whom he said was born to be an Olympian. Last Monday, De los Santos reset his own world junior record in clean and jerk on the way to claiming two gold medals at the IWF World Junior Championships in Ismailia, Egypt. It was his third world title after the Youth crown at 61kg in 2023 and the junior championship at 67kg last year.

De los Santos, 19, took the 71kg silver at the SEA Games in Thailand last year and improved on the bronze that his late father Alvin bagged in +105kg at the 2005 SEA Games. It was Alvin who taught his son the basics of the sport and nurtured his ascent. Two months ago, Alvin died of liver cancer and left his son distraught. De los Santos’ consolation was when he landed a podium finish at the SEA Games last December, his father was still alive to savor the moment.

    The country’s first Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz called De los Santos the future of Philippine weightlifting. Diaz’ husband Julius Naranjo supervises De los Santos’ training, collaborating with his mother Diwa, a national coach. De los Santos’ parents met and married when they were national lifters.

Puentevella wasn’t in Egypt when De los Santos marked his latest feat, skipping the event to prepare for the IWF Congress in India next week. From his Bacolod home, Puentevella broke the news of De los Santos’ new world junior record. “Albert did it for his dad,” said Puentevella, honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Philippine Sportswriters Association last February. “I was actually worried Alvin’s death would affect him. His mother Diwa is really taking good care of him. In two years, he’ll be ready for the LA Olympics.”

Puentevella said De los Santos has been with the federation since he was 12. “He’s from Zamboanga, born to be a lifter, born to be an Olympian,” said the former Mayor and Congresssman from Bacolod. “Last year, we were in Norway for the world championships where he broke the junior record on his first appearance in a senior competition.” De los Santos’ dream is to strike gold at the Olympics and it’s a goal that’s within his sights.

Puentevella said De los Santos and the other national lifters are getting ready for the Asian Games. “We always try to deliver for our country’s sake,” he said. “It’s our ultimate challenge. We’re thankful to our sponsors for believing in us. We don’t make noise. We just win medals. This is the sport for Filipinos. Sana makapasok na ang weightlifting sa UAAP, NCAA and the collegiate leagues. Thanks to the Department of Education at nakasama na kami sa Palaro. To God be the glory.”