‘Toxic environment’ amid coach drama takes toll as Sarno struggles with Olympic debut

Filipino weightlifter Vanessa Sarno admits she succumbed to what she calls a “toxic environment” as the rising star’s Olympic debut at the Paris Games ends surprisingly quickly

MANILA, Philippines – Sports are as much mental as physical.

Sadly, weightlifter Vanessa Sarno admitted she succumbed to what she called a “toxic environment” as her Olympic debut at the Paris Olympics came to a quick end after she failed to complete a lift in the snatch round of the women’s 71kg class.

Sarno, a former Asian champion, was surprisingly eliminated after three failed attempts to pull 100kg, a weight she normally lifts in competitions.

The 20-year-old from Bohol set the national record with 110 kg at the International Weightlifting Federation World Cup in Phuket, Thailand in April and the Southeast Asian Games record with 105 kg last year in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

“It wasn’t pressure. It was frustration with the people around us because it was a very toxic environment during the preparations for the Olympics,” Sarno told Philippine reporters in Paris. “I admit that my mentality was weak when it came to people around me who were very toxic.”

Sarno said certain people made her feel uncomfortable in the run-up to the Olympics, which took her and teammates Elreen Ando and John Ceniza to training camps in Metz, France, and Saarbrücken, Germany.

Sarno was on the verge of giving up, but she said she was only able to persevere after the arrival of her favorite coach, Richard “Pep” Agosto.

Agosto was not originally part of the team sent by the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP), but Sarno petitioned the Philippine Olympic Committee for his participation.

“It felt like they didn’t want coach Pep to coach me during the Olympics,” Sarno said.

“I feel comfortable with coach Pep. I already explained to them why I like coach Pep. Coach Pep helps with my mentality. He knows me, he knows how my mind works and he pushes me.”

“When I got injured, coach Pep was there. He helped me, even though it was a difficult time. It was impossible for me to lift at that time, but coach Pep was there. He did everything he could and he pushed me.”

Agosto and fellow coach Christopher Bureros accompanied Sarno during the competition, although Nick Jaluag is listed as her personal coach based on her profile on the Olympic website.

Agosto, a former Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist turned coach, said he chose to help Sarno with her Olympic preparations despite the threat of a suspension from the national team.

“If I’m banned for supporting my athlete at the Olympics, then so be it. At least I supported my athlete until the end,” Agosto said.

SWP chairman Monico Puentevella said he has no idea who Sarno is referring to.

“Let her performance speak for itself. She got the coach she really wanted. What’s going on? She’s a very young girl. Let this rest for now,” Puentevella told Rappler via message exchange.

Sarno apologized after the Philippines went home medal-less in weightlifting for the first time in three Olympic Games, after Hidilyn Diaz won a historic gold medal at the Tokyo Games three years ago and silver at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“I apologize to the people I let down, because I allowed myself to be influenced by people who tried to put me down,” Sarno said. – Rappler.com