ANGEL San Nicolas continues to add more medals into his collection after earning a silver in the Philippine national weightlifting competition in Tagbilaran, Bohol, the central Philippines. The event was held from Aug. 8 to 12, 2022.
Angel San Nicolas, second left, wins a silver medal in the Philippine national weightlifting competition in Tagbilaran, Bohol, the central Philippines. The event was held from Aug. 8 to 12, 2022.
While vacationing in the Philippines, the 2022 Pacific Mini Games gold medalist had the privilege to join the weightlifting competition thanks to his coach of nearly five years, Guam’s Julius Naranjo, who signed him up for the event.
San Nicolas competed in the 102kg category and recorded a Snatch of 121kg and a Clean & Jerk of 161kg to clinch the silver medal.
“It was highly competitive because this competition pitted the best from each city and province of the Philippines who want to make it to their national team,” San Nicolas told Variety.
“I think I’ve been preparing long enough for an opportunity like this,” said San Nicolas who won two gold and one silver in the Pacific Mini Games hosted by the CNMI in June.
San Nicolas’s mother is originally from Zamboanga, the southern Philippines, which qualified him to compete in the Asian country.
San Nicolas said he traveled to the Philippines because he was invited to the wedding of Hidilyn Diaz and Julius Naranjo.
A weightlifter from Zamboanga, Diaz is the first Filipino to win a gold medal in the Olympics.
“Being with Hidilyn and Coach Julius gave me an insight on what it takes to go far in the sport,” San Nicolas said. “If you do it for the money, you’ll go nowhere, because you don’t make money from weightlifting. It’s just straight up passion and hard work.”
