John Ceniza continues to rise as he makes Olympic debut

Welcome to the biggest stage of sports, John Ceniza!

Weightlifter Ceniza will also aim to make history as weightlifting hopes for another medal for the Philippines in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Ceniza will compete in the 61kg category as he makes his debut in the Summer Games.

Continuous progression

The 26-year old Ceniza has been in weightlifting for 13 years already and has been continuously progressing in his career.

Apparently, it all started when his brother did not allow him to use some of his new equipment.

"Naengganyo lang ako sa kapatid ko na may gamit [na] iba, mga bago. Parang gusto kong manghiram pero ayaw niya," Ceniza told GMA News Online on the sidelines of the event by Philippine Airlines for Paris-bound athletes.

"Sabi ko sasali na lang ako, ganun, dahan-dahan hanggang after two years, naging Philippine team doon sa Marikina for Philippine National Games," recalled Ceniza as he represented Cebu in the games.

Ceniza said he and fellow Paris weightlifter Ando started in the sport together and now, weightlifting has been providing for his needs.

His motivation?

"Sarili talaga, wala namang iba," Ceniza said. "Simula pagkabata, ako lang ‘yung nagmo-motivate sa sarili ko."

Motivating himself, however, bore fruit as he bagged silver medals in the 2019 and 2023 editions of the Southeast Asian Games. He also copped a bronze medal in the 2020 IWF World Cup in Rome.

In 2024, Ceniza earned the required points to book a ticket to Paris. 

"Talagang buhat lang nang buhat. 'Pag nagkapera, masaya ako. Nung simula nung nalaman ko 'yung Olympics, may malaki pa palang event. Biggest event is Olympics eh di pinagsisikapan ko pa," he added.

Heavy lifters

Ceniza, however, will go against the heavyweights of the 61kg weight class.

Returning in the category are the top two finishers of the same division in Tokyo, gold medalist Li Frabin of China and silver medalist Eko Yuli Irawan of Indonesia.

American champion Hampton Morris will also compete in the same category just months after he set the world record of clean and jerk at 176 kilograms, the first time that an American set a world record in the seniors division in 55 years.

Ceniza is among the 22 Filipino athletes bound for Paris. He will join fellow weightlifters Elreen Ando and Vanessa Sarno in the tournament.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News