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MOSQUERA (COL) lifts Rio weight off his shoulders with gold in Lima

Weightlifter is smiling again after missing the 2016 Olympics through injury

 

Credit: Marcello Zambrana / Lima 2019

Francisco MOSQUERA (COL) achieved golden redemption at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games to help erase the disappointment of three years ago when he missed the Rio 2016 Olympics with a knee injury.

The Colombian weightlifter triumphed in the 61kg category, setting a new Pan American record of 170kg in the clean and jerk along the way.

He became the first Colombian to win gold at Lima 2019, and immediately set his sights on Tokyo 2020.

“The past is done,” he said. “I am living in the present. I will continue working in the name of God and may he protect me because I am trying hard. The Pan American record was achieved, but I wanted the world record. It wasn’t possible, but I will continue working hard to achieve it in Tokyo 2020.

“I feel very proud of being the first Colombian athlete to win a gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games.

“I thank God, my family, the Olympic Committee and my coach Oswaldo Pinilla, because even when many people criticized him, he is the mastermind of my triumph.”

Source: Lima 2019