CEBUANA weightlifiter Rosegie Ramos bagged a pair of bronze medals to kick off the Philippines’ campaign at the 2024 IWF World Championships in Manama, Bahrain on a bright note.
Ramos achieved a total lift of 263 kilograms, with 116 kgs in the snatch and 147 kgs in the clean and jerk. She finished third behind Thailand’s Chomchuen Natthawat, who claimed gold with a total of 273 kgs, and Brazil’s Felix Da Silva Thiago, who took silver with 269 kgs.
Following her success, Ramos expressed her gratitude in a long post on her official social media page.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi ko po alam saan magsisimula. Sobrang saya at sobrang priceless ‘yung nararamdaman ko ngayon. Hindi ko alam paano nangyari lahat, pati ako na-shock sa performance ko. Thank you, God! Alam mo Lord kung gaano ko ito ka-kailangan. At hindi mo ako binigo,” she wrote.
She added, “Ang podium finishes na ito ay isang malaking paalala na kahit ano man ang pagsubok na pagdaanan natin sa buhay, laging anjan si God, ang ating pamilya, kasama ng mga totoo at tamang tao para tulungan tayong bumangon ulit.”
The competition, which drew the best in the world, marked Ramos’ return to the international stage after narrowly missing qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics. She tied for 10th place with the Dominican Republic in the IWF World Rankings, where only the top 10 lifters advanced.
Ramos’ success was followed by another bronze medal for the Philippines when Fernando Agad Jr. excelled in the men’s 55-kg category.
More Filipino weightlifters are set to compete in the coming days.
Two-time Olympian Elreen Ando will take part in the women’s 64-kg event on December 11, alongside 2019 SEA Games’ gold medalist Kristel Macrohon in the women’s 71-kg category.
John Dexter Tabique will also represent the country in the men’s 89 kg competition.