Nineteen-year-old Zamboanga native Albert Ian Delos Santos continues to make history for Philippine weightlifting after setting a new junior world record at the 2025 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships in Forde, Norway.
Delos Santos, competing in his first-ever senior-level tournament, lifted an incredible 185 kilograms in the clean and jerk category for the men’s 71-kilogram division, surpassing the previous junior world record. His record-breaking lift came on his third and final attempt, securing him the eighth overall spot in the senior competition.
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Breaking Barriers at 19
Before the competition, Delos Santos had already set his sights on the record. “Promising to get a world record makes me sound cocky, which I'm not, but that was pretty special. My big target here was making the top ten and hitting that 185,” he said after his performance.
He added that he’s determined to keep improving. “There's plenty more improvement in me… But things are going well. Now I have to go straight into preparing for the next big competition, the South East Asia Games in Thailand in two months,” he shared.
Delos Santos, who already holds the gold medal from this year’s World Juniors Championship in Lima, Peru, is following in the footsteps of his parents, former SEA Games bronze medalist Alvin Delos Santos and national coach Diwa Delos Santos. Both have been instrumental in shaping his early career and mentoring him through international competitions.
Rising Star in Philippine Weightlifting
Despite being the youngest in his weight class at the IWF Championships, Delos Santos has already drawn comparisons to Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who also began her international journey at a young age. Coaches noted that exposing Ian early to elite-level competition helps him build the experience needed for future Olympic campaigns.
Delos Santos’ coaches have expressed optimism that the young lifter could be among the Philippines’ brightest hopes for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, joining Paris Olympian Elreen Ando, who also earned a bronze medal in Norway.
With the Philippines’ consistent presence in Olympic weightlifting for over two decades, Delos Santos’ record-setting feat not only cements his place among the sport’s rising stars but also fuels the nation’s growing confidence in its next generation of champions.
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