Unlike before where he used to carry coconuts, bananas, and firewood for a living, John Ceniza now shoulders an entire Filipino nation in his Paris 2024 quest.
It has been eight years since a male weightlifter bannered the Philippines in the Olympics.
John Ceniza will make his Olympic debut in Paris 2024, joining a three-team Philippine delegation alongside Vanessa Sarno and Elreen Ando in hopes of following up Hidilyn Diaz’s golden Tokyo 2020 moment.
The 26-year-old will compete in the -56kg weight class, becoming the first male Filipino lifter to compete in the event since Nestor Colonia in 2016.
From starting out as a porter in Cebu, carrying coconuts, bananas, and firewood to now being a first-time Olympian, Ceniza’s road to Paris 2024 is definitely an awe-inspiring one.
2019-2020- You See Him Now
Ceniza started the sport at 13 years old with his brother Evangelito encouraging him to take weightlifting seriously.
He first broke in the international weightlifting scene when he copped silver in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games after registering a total lift of 252kg.
The then 21-year-old lifted 112kg in the snatch and 140kg in the clean and jerk, both on his first attempt, finishing second to Vietnam’s Lai Gia Thanh, who tallied a total of 264.
A year later, he bagged bronze in the 2020 Weightlifting World Cup in Rome, Italy where his solid showing boosted his Tokyo 2020 chances. Ceniza put up a total of 269kg for a podium finish.
However, these impressive showings were not enough to qualify for the Olympic Games that year, but the Paris 2024 chase is all-set from this point moving forward.
May 13, 2023- Silver-weighted Lift
Ceniza replicated his silver medal finish in the 32nd edition of SEA Games in Cambodia four years after the same outing occurred in the 31st edition in the country.
It was a fitting comeback for Ceniza who didn’t win a medal in the recently concluded 2023 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jinju, South Korea.
[ALSO READ: Filipino bet John Ceniza falls short of podium in World Weightlifting Championships]
He finished with a total lift of 297 kilograms –his clean and jerk tallied 169kg while a 128kg lift was recorded in snatch– for back-to-back silver medals.
October 1, 2023 - So close yet so far
Ceniza then came just a tad short of pocketing medal in the men’s weightlifting at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
A total lift of 297kg wound up fourth as the Filipino weightlifter narrowly finished behind bronze medalist Chungguk Kim of North Korea.
Ceniza did not hide his disappointment on his final performance where officials ruled a "no lift” decision after his first attempt in the clean and jerk.
Despite the excruciating loss, the road to Paris 2024 remained open for the Cebuano weightlifter.
April 3, 2024- Date with Destiny
It took Ceniza a lot– 300 kilograms to be exact– to earn a Paris 2024 ticket.
The Filipino weightlifter sealed his place for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, thanks to a phenomenal showing in the 2024 International Weightlifting Federation World Cup in Phuket, Thailand.
He lifted a total of 300kg, clearing 132kg and 168kg in snatch and clean & jerk respectively to surpass his previous personal-best of 298kg. His performance in the event--the last qualifiers for weightlifters--assured the 26-year old Cebuano a spot in Paris 2024.
[ALSO READ: Unexpected 300kg: Weightlifter John Febuar Ceniza looks back on Olympic berth-clinching performance]
Despite admitting nursing an injury prior to Olympic Games Paris 2024, Ceniza is right on track on recovering while doing it all to be at full 100% when the games kick off.
From Cebu and now to Paris, Ceniza has truly come a long way. Can he be the first male weightlifter to give the country an Olympic medal?
[ALSO READ: Me, myself, and I: A weightlifter of a few words, John Ceniza looks to make all the noise in Olympic Games Paris 2024]
Story summary:
- John Ceniza, a former porter from Cebu, will represent the Philippines in the -56kg weight class at the Paris 2024 Olympics, making him the first male Filipino weightlifter to compete since Nestor Colonia in 2016.
- Ceniza has achieved significant milestones, including a silver medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, a bronze at the 2020 Weightlifting World Cup, and another silver at the 2023 SEA Games. His recent performance at the 2024 International Weightlifting Federation World Cup secured his Olympic spot.
- Despite setbacks, such as missing a medal at the 19th Asian Games and dealing with injuries, Ceniza's determination and hard work have paid off, culminating in his qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital team. The summary was generated by AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]