Venezuelan weightlifters turn tragedy into triumph with double golds

At the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, Julio Mayora lifted 151 kg to secure gold medals in both the snatch and clean-and-jerk, a feat he dedicated to the victims of the June 24 double earthquakes that ravaged La Guaira and Caracas. The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5, killed over 6,000 people and left thousands homeless, prompting Mayora to help clear debris in the immediate aftermath. He expressed heartbreak over friends buried in rubble and vowed his medals would bring joy to his home state.

Fellow Olympian Keydomar Vallenilla, also a gold-medalist, recalled losing a promising young athlete from his gym and framed his win as a symbol of national determination. Both lifters, former silver medalists from Tokyo, now aim for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, hoping their achievements inspire a country still recovering from disaster.