Vanessa Sarno had an unfortunate fate in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The Filipina weightlifting star quickly fell short on her Olympic debut as she failed to lift in the snatch round of the women’s 71 kilograms, and this eventually resulted in her getting a DNF (did not finish) after Sarno did not lift in the clean and jerk.

But aside from the physical toll that her event demanded, the 20-year-old Bohol native revealed that it was actually the mental and emotional side of things that factored in her surprising early exit.

“Hindi naman po siya sa pressure. More on frustration po sa lahat ng mga tao na nasa paligid namin kasi sobrang toxic ng environment,” she told Filipino reporters in Paris.

“Ang pangit po ng environment while preparing for Olympics kaya aminado po ako na naging mahina po ‘yung mentality ko pagdating sa mga tao na nasa paligid ko na sobrang toxic,” she continued.

Sarno revealed that certain people in their camp made her uncomfortable, and she shared that they were among the biggest reasons why her mental state was affected.

“Ramdam ko na ayaw nila na nandoon ako, na gusto nila ma-down ako. Sobrang hirap kapag ganun po ‘yung nasa paligid. Kailangan po talaga na malakas ‘yung mentality,” said Vanessa.

Another thing to be noted, according to Sarno, was how her coach, Richard “Pep” Agosto, was previously prohibited from serving his responsibilities to the young Filipina.

“‘Yung coach na kasama ako sa Metz na training, hindi po si coach Pep, which is siya po ‘yung gumagabay po sa akin, naga-guide at nagtitiwala, at nagpu-push na kaya ko mag-Olympics,” she said.

“Nung nawala na po ako kami [sa] Manila, sobrang hirap po para sa ‘kin kasi mahina ‘yung mentality ko. Gustong-gusto ko na po sumuko dahil sa sobrang toxic ng environment na nandoon. Hindi ko na po kinaya ‘yung mga tao.”

“Siya po yung grassroots coach ko. Hindi po natin mababawi na [sa] kanya po ako nanggaling, kasi po sa dami ng nangyari, sa lahat ng injuries, ‘pag nagkaka-injury ako, ‘pag wala siya, hindi ako nagpo-podium, parang wala rin ako sa kanila.”

Agosto, who was eventually sent to their camp late in their build-up after Sarno requested the Philippine Olympic Committee to do so, then went on to air his side of things.

“Nung na-qualify na siya sa Olympics, hindi na ako pwede pumunta sa kanya kasi hindi ako part of the Olympic coaches,” revealed Coach Pep.

“Kaya ako pinasunod sa Germany kasi kitang-kita na hindi na okay ‘yung bata. Pero honestly, ‘di ako welcome dun. ‘Di ako officially part ng team. Doon pa lang sa Manila, minake sure na nilang hindi ako kasama.”

“Then never ako kinausap ng mga kasama kong coaches. Nagkikita kami sa training, pero ‘di kami nag usap.”

“Sumunod ako dito pero sugal na ‘to eh. Alam ko tatanggalin na ako sa National Team. Banned na raw ako sa weightlifting. If ma ba-ban ako for supporting my athlete, so be it. At least, pinakita ko ‘yung support ko sa athlete ko,” he continued.

While not naming names, Sarno said how certain people simply didn’t want Agosto to come with her to Paris. (ABS-CBN News)