Sunday, october 22nd, 2023.- An important victory was witnessed by those who attended the Gimnasio Chimkowe in Peñalolén on Sunday to enjoy the weightlifting event at Santiago 2023. Colombian Yenny Álvarez broke the Pan American Games record in the 59-kilogram category by lifting a total of 228 kilograms.

The athlete scored 102 points in the snatch event and followed it with 126 points in the clean and jerk.

In this way, she surpassed the previous Pan American record held by her compatriot Camila Lobón, who set it at the 2019 Lima Games.

The silver medal in this competition went to Canadian Maude Charron (226 kilograms), and the bronze medal was awarded to Venezuelan Anyelin Venegas (22 kilograms).

This was an emotional victory for the Cali-born athlete, considering that she had been away from competitions for nearly five years after testing positive for an anabolic steroid during a doping control at the Pan American Championship in Cartagena.

With this win, Álvarez secured Colombia's third gold medal in the ongoing 2023 Pan American Games, joining Mariana Pajón (BMX cycling) and Walter Vargas (individual time trial road cycling) as continental champions.

Written by Marcelo González and Rodrigo Parragué; translated by Rocio Rojas / Photosport
Photo: Luis Hidalgo / Santiago 2023 via Photosport