For the first time since 2016, a male weightlifter will be representing the Philippines in the Olympic Games.

The 26-year-old, Cebu native John Ceniza will be competing for flag and country in the 2024 Paris Games later this month, and he is set to do it alongside Vanessa Sarno and Elreen Ando.

The 5-foot-5 Ceniza, who is a two-time Southeast Asian Games silver medalist and a one-time International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) bronze medalist, was able to book his ticket to Paris after he lifted a total of 300 kilograms in the 61 kg division of the IWF World Cup last April.

But despite this being his first-ever stint in the Olympics, Ceniza is keen on making a name for himself yet again with a podium finish in Paris.

“Dapat ‘yung target goal mo, mag-podium. Dapat mag-improve every day talaga,” he said in a previous interview.

Also confident of Ceniza’s chances is Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella.

He previously said that the trio of Filipino weightlifting Olympians who will compete in this year’s Summer Games are even better than the country’s only Olympic gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz, which is why he is optimistic of the chances of John, as well as Vanessa and Elreen.

Isang factor that tumutulong sa kanila, ‘yung miracle na nagawa in Hidilyn,” the former mayor of Bacolod City said last May.

“At their age now, they are better than Hidilyn before. Si Hidilyn kasi has inspired all of them.”

On his way to a medal finish, however, are China’s Li Frabin, Indonesia’s Eko Yuli Irawan, USA’s Hampton Morris, which is why Ceniza’s focus, for now, is improving from his total of 300 kg after lifting 132 kg in snatch and 168 kg in clean and jerk.

“Kailangang mag-training pa rin [ang focus ko] at i-improve pa rin ‘yung total ko kung gusto mong mag-medal. ‘Yung pangalawa at pangatlo [sa IWF] is tatlong kilo ‘yung agwat namin,” he furthered.

If he succeeds, Ceniza will become the first-ever Filipino Olympian who will win a medal in the weightlifting event.

But he acknowledges that aside from the physical toll that it will require of him, what is more crucial is the mental side of the sport.

“Mahirap talaga kasi ‘yung nasa utak eh, kahit isang kilo lang, mahirap i-improve talaga,” he explained.

Ceniza, as well as Sarno and Ando, will begin their Paris 2024 campaign on August 7. (ABS-CBN News)