Weightlifter Sarno cites toxic environment for Paris Olympics exit

Filipino weightlifter Vanessa Sarno experienced a "toxic environment" leading up to her Paris Olympics debut, which she believes contributed to her early exit from the women's 71kg event.

Sarno was unable to complete any of her snatch attempts at 100kg, falling short of her personal and national record.

The 20-year-old athlete alleged that she was assigned a different coach than her preferred mentor, Richard 'Pep' Agosto, starting from the training camp in Metz, France.

Agosto had been instrumental in Sarno's record-breaking performance at the IWF World Cup, which secured her spot in the Paris Games.

Sarno stated that her request for Agosto to be her coach in Paris was not granted, negatively impacting her mindset.

She expressed that the coach accompanying her in Metz was not the one who guided, trusted, and pushed her to believe she could compete in the Olympics.