Filipino weightlifting sensation Albert Ian Delos Santos once again etched his name in the record books, setting two junior world records in the men’s 70kg division at the 2026 IWF World Championships in Ningbo, China.
Photo: Asian Weightlifting Federation/Facebook
The 20-year-old powerhouse from Zamboanga City showcased remarkable strength and composure on the international stage, recording a phenomenal 187kg lift in the clean and jerk and a record-breaking total of 331kg.
Delos Santos’ impressive performance was built on a solid 144kg lift in the snatch, followed by his record-setting 187kg effort in the clean and jerk.
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His 331kg total surpassed his previous junior world record of 324kg, while his clean and jerk performance eclipsed his previous record of 183kg.
However, despite shattering two junior world records, the young Filipino phenom faced a fiercely competitive field and narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth overall. He was edged out by China’s He Baozhen, who claimed the bronze medal with a total of 339kg.
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Meanwhile, North Korea dominated the division, with Pak Pyol sweeping all three gold medals after lifting 157kg in the snatch, an astonishing 198kg in the clean and jerk, and a division-topping total of 355kg.
Fellow North Korean weightlifter Ri Won Ju secured the silver medal with a 343kg total.
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Although Delos Santos fell just short of a podium finish in Ningbo, his record-breaking performance further established him as one of the Philippines’ promising young weightlifting talents on the international stage.
The young weightlifter will have another opportunity to strengthen his Olympic qualification campaign at the upcoming IWF Qualifier in Doha, Qatar, scheduled for December 7 to 16, 2026.
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The competition is part of the qualification pathway for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where Delos Santos hopes to fulfill his dream of representing the Philippines.
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