Elreen Ando already knows what she needs to improve on following her sixth place finish in Paris 2024 as she looks to participate in the Games in Los Angeles four years from now.
Despite failing to take home a medal after finishing sixth in the women's weightlifting 59kg division in Paris, Elreen Ando was proud of herself for her efforts that garnered her two personal bests – and Philippine records – in her second Olympic stint.
Ando punched in 130kg in her final clean and jerk attempt for a total lift of 230kg, eclipsing both the national and her personal highs of 128kg and 228kg, respectively.
Although she struggled in both the snatch and clean and jerk, only clearing her second lift in the former to tie her best tally at 100kg before coming up clutch to successfully lift her third try in the latter, the 25-year-old Cebuana was glad to have been able to deliver when it mattered.
“Proud ako sa sarili ko po kasi kahit hindi naman natin nakuha 'yung first at saka second (in clean and jerk), at least po, naipaglaban natin 'yung last attempt,” Ando told One Sports’ Carlo Pamintuan.
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“Hindi naman siya ganoon talaga kapangit 'yung performance. Proud pa rin ako sa sarili ko kasi nag-improve pa rin ako tapos nakapag-PR (Philippine record) pa rin po ako for my personal record,” she added.
Ando admitted that her two failed attempts in snatch, first at 100kg then at 102, did foil her and her team's target total to reach the podium, but she nevertheless remained grateful for the competition's outcome.
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“Hindi talaga natin nasasabi ano ang mangyayari sa laro. Malungkot man na hindi namin [nakuha] 'yung target talaga namin ni coach pero, at least, hindi pa rin ibinigay ni Lord na ma-zero kami. Naipaglaban pa rin para sa bayan,” said Ando.
In the end, the Pinay weightlifter heaved a huge sigh of relief and later bared that she shed tears, both for getting over the line and for her notable improvement.
“Parang naiyak ako na nakuha ko 'yung 130kg (in clean and jerk) tapos naiyak din ako kasi siyempre, kahit ganoon ka-pangit 'yung laro ko, nag-improve pa rin po ako,” said Ando.
“Sobrang proud ako sa sarili kong nakaya ko at naisip ko ring kailangan ko itong kunin para talaga sa bayan."
Watching on the sidelines was her idol, Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, whom Ando defeated in the International Weightlifting Federation World Cup last April to qualify for Paris 2024.
“Thank you nang marami po, Ate [Hidilyn], sa support ninyo lalo na especially sa'yo. Masaya po akong nandito ka, nag-support sa'min. Maraming salamat po, Ate,” said Ando.
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After her impressive run in Paris, Ando is already looking to up her performance at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“Mag-LA pa po ako. Saka kailangan ko pa rin talagang mag-sikap sa training. Kulang pa talaga 'yung mga buhat ko [para] makamit natin 'yung medal,” said Ando.