Boholana weightlifter Vanessa Sarno has clinched a spot in the Paris Olympics after a record-setting performance in the women’s 71-kg category of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup held in Phuket, Thailand on Sunday.

Sarno of Tagbilaran City broke her own national record in snatch, lifting 110kg, and posting 135kg in clean and jerk for a total lift of 245kg. She finished fifth overall in the tournament which was the last qualifying event for a berth in the Olympics.

The 20-year-old who is considered as heir apparent to Tokyo Olympics gold medal winner Hidilyn Diaz used pure grit to power through after admitting to having struggled weeks before the weightlifting tilt in Thailand.

“Hindi ko in-expect na mabubuhat ko yun kasi week before ng game is hirap na ako buhatin kahit yung personal record ko lang. Di ko kayang buhatin sa training—108(kg). Adrenaline lang at saka puso,” she was quoted as saying by ABS-CBN News.

“Yung nasa isip ko lang that time is buhatin ko lang yung dapat kong gawin at saka yung tamang pagbuhat ng snatch. Lakas ng loob nalang talaga,” she added.

Sarno is expected to intensify her training in the forthcoming weeks.

She hopes to increase her total lift by at least 15kg to reach “260-265 kg” for her to be at par with her rivals and earn a podium finish.

Olivia Reeves of the United States topped the 71-kg weight class with a 268-kg total lift. She was followed by Liao Guifang of China (264) and North Korea’s Song Kuk Hyang (261).

Earlier, Guifang bagged the 2023 world championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, lifting 273kg. She was followed by Ecuador’s Angie Palacios who lifted 255kg and Reeves who lifted 253kg.

After Sarno’s stellar performance, the Philippine weightlifting team now has three Olympic weightlifting qualifiers. She will be joining Elreen Ando and John Ceniza who will compete in the women’s 59kg and men’s 61kg categories, respectively.