CHONBURI, Thailand — Albert Delos Santos set a new world juniors record on his way to capturing the silver medal in the men’s 71kg division at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games weightlifting competitions on Sunday, December 14, at the Chonburi Sports School.

The 19-year-old lifted 138kg in the snatch and 186kg in the clean and jerk, totaling 324kg for the Philippines’ first medal in weightlifting at the tournament. His clean and jerk surpassed his previous world juniors record by one kilogram, which he set last October at the IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Forde, Norway.

Record-breaking clean and jerk

Delos Santos’ performance demonstrated both strength and composure under pressure as he broke his own record in front of a SEA Games audience. His total of 324kg, while short of the gold, showcased his growing potential on the international stage.

Thailand’s Weeraphon Wichuma claimed gold in world-record fashion with a 195kg clean and jerk and a 347kg total, also exceeding his own record by one kilogram. Delos Santos’ silver proved the Philippines can compete at high levels despite strong competition from Southeast Asian powerhouses.

Promising future for Philippine weightlifting

This milestone comes after Tokyo Olympics champion Hidilyn Diaz finished fourth in the women’s 58kg earlier in the day, giving the Philippine team momentum in the weightlifting events. Delos Santos’ achievement marks a significant step in the development of the country’s next generation of lifters.

The 19-year-old is expected to continue building on this performance in future tournaments, aiming to challenge senior records and secure more international medals for the Philippines. His world juniors record underlines the nation’s growing presence in the sport.