‘Toxic environment’ amid coaching drama takes its toll as Sarno struggles to make Olympic debut

Filipina weightlifter Vanessa Sarno admits to succumbing to what she calls a “toxic environment” as rising star’s Olympic debut at Paris Games ends surprisingly quickly

MANILA, Philippines – Sports are as much a mental activity as they are physical.

Sadly, weightlifter Vanessa Sarno admitted to succumbing to what she called a “toxic environment” as her Olympic debut at the Paris Games ended quickly after failing to put in an effort in the women’s 71kg snatch.

A former Asian champion, Sarno surprisingly failed after three unsuccessful attempts in the snatch at 100kg, a weight she normally exceeds in competition.

The 20-year-old from Bohol set the national record with 110kg at the International Weightlifting Federation World Cup in April in Phuket, Thailand, and the Southeast Asian Games record with 105kg last year in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

“It wasn’t pressure. It was frustration with the people around us because the environment was very toxic during the preparation for the Olympics,” Sarno told Filipino reporters in Paris. “I admit that I was weak in the face of the people around me who were very toxic.”

Sarno said some people made her feel uncomfortable in the run-up to the Olympics, which took her and teammates Elreen Ando and John Ceniza to training camps in Metz, France, and Saarbrücken, Germany.

On the verge of giving up, Sarno said she only managed to pull through after the arrival of her favorite coach, Richard “Pep” Agosto.

Agosto was not initially part of the team sent by the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP), but Sarno petitioned the Philippine Olympic Committee for his inclusion.

“I felt like they didn’t want coach Pep to coach me at the Olympics,” Sarno said.

“I feel comfortable with coach Pep. I have already explained to them why I like coach Pep. Coach Pep helps me improve my mentality. He knows me, he knows how my mind works and he pushes me.”

“When I got injured, coach Pep was there. He helped me even though it was a difficult time. It was impossible for me to lift weights at that time, but coach Pep was there. He did everything he could and he pushed me.”

Agosto and fellow coach Christopher Bureros accompanied Sarno during the competition, although Nick Jaluag is listed as his personal coach based on his profile on the Olympic website.

A former Southeast Asian Games weightlifting bronze medallist turned coach, Agosto said he chose to help Sarno with his Olympic preparation despite the threat of being banned from the national team.

“If I get banned for supporting my athlete at the Olympics, so be it. At least I showed my support for the athlete until the end,” Agosto said.

SWP president Monico Puentevella said he had no idea who Sarno was referring to.

“In the meantime, let her performance speak for itself. She got the coach she really wanted. What’s all the fuss about? She’s a very young girl. Let’s just leave it at that for now,” Puentevella told Rappler via a text message exchange.

Sarno apologized as the Philippines returned home without a weightlifting medal for the first time in three Olympics after Hidilyn Diaz won a historic gold medal at the Tokyo Games three years ago and a silver medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

“I’m sorry to the people I disappointed because I let myself get affected by people trying to put me down,” Sarno said. – Rappler.com