Village Connect
In the quiet strength of every lift, there’s a story of resilience — and for Cebuana weightlifter Elreen Ando, that story has reached the world stage. Competing at the 2025 IWF World Championships in Forde, Norway, the 25-year-old Olympian earned a bronze medal in the women’s 63kg clean and jerk, proving once again that Filipino determination can rise to any challenge.
Ando powered through the competition with a 131-kilogram lift in the clean and jerk, trailing only behind North Korea’s Ri Suk (142kg) and Canada’s Maude Charron (133kg). With an additional 100 kilograms in the snatch, she finished with a combined total of 231 kilograms—just shy of the overall podium, but a massive leap forward in her pursuit of excellence.
For Ando, every kilogram lifted was not just muscle and motion—it was faith, gratitude, and love. “I’ve always dreamed of winning a medal at the World Championship, and God made that dream come true,” she shared, her voice filled with emotion. “Salamat kay God, sa pamilya ko, kay Abegail Latonio Dejito, at sa lahat ng walang sawang sumusuporta.”
She paid tribute to her steadfast circle—Team Ando, the Philippine Sports Commission, the MVP Sports Foundation, Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas, and her mentors who have guided her through triumphs and trials. Among them, her longtime coach, Christopher Bureros, who she affectionately thanked: “Isang medal na lang, coach—abot na natin ang pangarap.”
Ando’s victory is more than a medal. It’s a message—to every young athlete who dares to dream, to every Filipino who believes that hard work and faith can lift you higher than you ever imagined. With each competition, she continues to raise not just weights, but hopes — proving that true strength is born from the heart.
#ElreenAndo #Weightlifting #TeamPhilippines #FilipinaPride #IWFWorldChampionships #PinoyExcellence #CebuanaPower
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