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Delos Santos Sets Junior World Record In Emotional Third World Title Win
Photo credit: IWF
Filipino weightlifter Albert Delos Santos delivered a powerful and emotional performance at the IWF World Junior Championships in Ismailia, Egypt, capturing his third world title while also setting a new junior world record in the clean and jerk.
The 19-year-old dominated the men’s 71kg category with a total lift of 326kg, breaking down into 139kg in the snatch and a record-setting 187kg in the clean and jerk. The lift secured both the gold medal and a new benchmark in the junior division of the sport.
Delos Santos’ victory came with deep emotional weight. Just two months before the competition, he lost his father, Alvin, to liver cancer. The tragedy heavily affected his preparation, with the athlete admitting he pushed himself beyond his programmed training in an attempt to dedicate every lift to his father.
After sealing the win, Delos Santos ran to his mother, Diwa, who showed him a photo of his late father. In an emotional moment at the platform, he embraced the image and paid tribute, saying, “I did it for him! I did it for him!”
He also overcame a serious setback leading into the competition after suffering a back injury that left him unable to walk for days during training recovery. Despite this, he returned in time to compete at full strength.
Delos Santos built his victory early with a strong snatch performance before sealing the gold in the clean and jerk. He completed his winning 175kg lift, then successfully pushed to 187kg, which became the new junior world record. He also attempted a heavier lift afterward in pursuit of a higher total mark.
The Filipino lifter, who turns 20 in August, is now a three-time world junior champion, having previously claimed titles in youth and junior divisions while steadily moving up weight categories.
He trains under coach Julius Naranjo, husband of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, while his mother Diwa—herself a former weightlifter and national coach—was present in Egypt supporting him throughout the competition.
With this latest achievement, Delos Santos is expected to transition to senior-level competitions, with upcoming targets including major Asian and world championships as he continues his rise in international weightlifting.
The 19-year-old dominated the men’s 71kg category with a total lift of 326kg, breaking down into 139kg in the snatch and a record-setting 187kg in the clean and jerk. The lift secured both the gold medal and a new benchmark in the junior division of the sport.
Delos Santos’ victory came with deep emotional weight. Just two months before the competition, he lost his father, Alvin, to liver cancer. The tragedy heavily affected his preparation, with the athlete admitting he pushed himself beyond his programmed training in an attempt to dedicate every lift to his father.
After sealing the win, Delos Santos ran to his mother, Diwa, who showed him a photo of his late father. In an emotional moment at the platform, he embraced the image and paid tribute, saying, “I did it for him! I did it for him!”
He also overcame a serious setback leading into the competition after suffering a back injury that left him unable to walk for days during training recovery. Despite this, he returned in time to compete at full strength.
Delos Santos built his victory early with a strong snatch performance before sealing the gold in the clean and jerk. He completed his winning 175kg lift, then successfully pushed to 187kg, which became the new junior world record. He also attempted a heavier lift afterward in pursuit of a higher total mark.
The Filipino lifter, who turns 20 in August, is now a three-time world junior champion, having previously claimed titles in youth and junior divisions while steadily moving up weight categories.
He trains under coach Julius Naranjo, husband of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, while his mother Diwa—herself a former weightlifter and national coach—was present in Egypt supporting him throughout the competition.
With this latest achievement, Delos Santos is expected to transition to senior-level competitions, with upcoming targets including major Asian and world championships as he continues his rise in international weightlifting.
May 5, 2026
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