Mexican weightlifter makes history, American teen shines on opening day of World Junior Championships

Posted : 16 November 2023

On the opening day of the 2023 World Junior Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico, athletes from Mexico and Turkey concluded their junior careers impressively. Notably, American teenager Isabella Rodriguez made a remarkable debut, transitioning from track sprinting to weightlifting. Rodriguez, 19, secured a silver medal, finishing just 1kg behind the winner, Huang Yi-Chen of Chinese Taipei, in the women's 49kg category. Rodriguez, who began weightlifting only 13 months ago, impressed with her performance in the clean and jerk.

Mexican athlete José Poox secured a historic victory in the men's 55kg category, becoming the first Mexican to win a men's junior world title. Poox, 20, completed all six lifts and achieved a total of 234kg, claiming gold in front of the home crowd. Cansu Bektas of Turkey won the women's 45kg event, posting personal bests in snatch and total. In an exciting women's 49kg competition, Huang Yi-Chen emerged victorious, with the top four finishers separated by just 2kg.

Isabella Rodriguez's coach, Spencer Arnold, recognized her potential as a weightlifter when she was a track sprinter, citing her power and suitability for the sport. Rodriguez, after winning clean and jerk gold, expressed her ambition to become a full-time weightlifter and aims to compete in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Despite being seventh in the snatch, Rodriguez's overall performance showcased her technical skill and determination.

In the men's 55kg category, Poox faced a tense moment during his first clean and jerk attempt but managed to secure all six lifts and claim the gold medal. The victory was particularly significant for Poox, who considered it his last chance to win gold in the juniors. He now plans to move up to the 61kg category next year after competing at the minimum weight of 55kg for 11 straight competitions.

Turkey's Bektas and Altun secured gold and bronze, respectively, in the women's 45kg category. Bektas, finishing her junior career, expressed satisfaction with her performance and looks forward to competing in the 49kg category at senior Worlds. The Championships featured the youngest athletes, 15-year-olds Kateryna Malashchuk from Ukraine and Kim Camilleri from Malta.

The event highlighted the diverse stories of junior athletes making their mark in weightlifting, from historic victories to impressive debuts and promising futures.

Mexican weightlifter makes history, American teen shines on opening day of World Junior Championships

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