Photo: International Weightlifting Federation

By Shawn De Guzman

Albert Ian Delos Santos copped two gold medals and a junior world record for Team Philippines in the IWF World Junior Championships in Ismailia, Egypt on Monday.

The 19-year-old pride of Zamboanga City dominated the men’s 71kilogram class finishing 17kg ahead of India’s Yash Vinod Khandagale, who settled for silver.

He lifted 139kg in the snatch before delivering a record-breaking 187kg in the clean and jerk to seal the victory and for his second gold.

Moments after stepping off the platform, Delos Santos rushed to his mother for an embrace and a photo — the same picture he later held aloft on the podium alongside his medals. 

It was an image of his father, who passed away just two months ago after battling liver cancer.

Despite dealing with a nagging back injury that at one point left him struggling to walk, Delos Santos pushed through, drawing strength from his father’s memory.

“I had only a week to train for this and I was trembling out there, but my dad was with me all the way. This was for him,” he said.

“I deviated from my coach’s percentages in training and wanted to do every lift for my dad. It was my way of trying to get over the pain. I wore myself out, and two Saturdays ago I injured my back. I couldn’t even walk for a couple of days. I felt so bad, I was in a deep void,” he added.

He attempted 190kg in the clean and jerk for a world record total but fell short.

Still, the victory marked Delos Santos’ third world junior title, having previously ruled the 61kg class in 2023 and the 67kg division last year.