‘Toxic environment’ too heavy for Sarno

PARIS – The Philippine weightlifting team reeled to painful defeats here three years after the Hidilyn Diaz moment in Tokyo.

Elreen Ann Ando waged a good battle before settling for a sixth-place finish in the women’s 59kg, but 61kg bet John Ceniza and 71kg campaigner Vanessa Sarno both took a quick exit with no lifts on their starting weight.

After the last of the two DNFs, Sarno voiced out her sentiments on the change of the coaches after the last Olympic qualifying tournament in Phuket, Thailand in March.

Listed as Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas coaches here were Christopher Bureros, Antonio Agustin Jr., Patrick Lee and Nicolas Jaluag. Curiously, with Sarno in the battle Friday night at the South Paris Arena 6 was Richard “Pep” Agosto.

Agosto, Sarno’s personal coach, entered the Philippine camp in Germany already in the 11th hour or during the final stage of their buildup for the Games.

“The POC (Philippine Olympic Committee) tapped me through the request of Vanessa,” said Agosto, a former Southeast Asian Games weightlifting bronze medalist who also competed in athletics throwing events during his days in La Salle.

“‘Nung time kasi na nag-qualifying siya ako may hawak sa kanya. Gina-guide ko siya, gamit niya ang programa ko. Until nag-qualify siya sa Olympics, hindi na ako pwedeng lumapit sa kanya kasi hindi ako Olympic bound.”

Agosto said he couldn’t say no to his athlete on her request for him to fly to Germany at the last minute.

“Actually hindi ako welcome doon (other coaches in the Philippine camp), ‘di ako part ng team. Doon pa lang sa Manila, they (SWP) mentioned na hindi ako kasama, nag-give way naman ako. Nagkataon lang na gusto ng bata, kinausap nila ang POC,” said Agosto, referring to a letter sent by the Philippine lifters to the national Olympic body.

Agosto said he’s now facing possible ban from the weightlifting association but he’s ready to take it.

“Sugal ito, kasi alam kong tatanggalin ako,” he said. “Kung i-ban ako for supporting my athlete, so be it. At least ipinakita ko sa athlete ko ang suporta ko hanggang dulo,” he said.

The sad part was Sarno still not performing well and even ending up with a DNF card.

“Hindi maganda ang training