Barry Wright
It appears Boady Santavy's Olympic dream may have to wait another four years.
He was ninth in the Snatch category at the International Weightlifting Federation Junior World Championships in the Republic of Georgia last week, but three unsuccessful attempts in the Clean and Jerk likely ended any hopes of earning a wild card spot to the Rio Games next month.
Santavy had successful lifts in the Snatch of 145 and 150 kilograms, but failed in his attempt at 153 kilos, which would have broken his own Canadian and Commonwealth junior record that he set last month at the Pan American Weightlifting Championships and Olympic Qualification event in Columbia.
But the failed attempts at 173 kilograms in the Clean and Jerk portion of the competition meant the lifelong Sarnian didn’t receive an overall score in the 20-man field.
Despite the setback, Santavy took to social media to assure his fans that, following a short respite, he'll stay hungry for the next Tokyo Games in 2020.
“Thanks to all my supporters,” he said on Facebook. “I hope you stay with me through this speed bump.”
“There's still Commonwealth Games (in Australia in 2018) and Pan Am Games (in Peru in 2019) and a lot of big competitions, so that will keep me training hard,” said the 18-year-old, who has been working since he was six years old to achieve his Olympic dream.
“I think I can get into the next Olympics (2020) for sure,” he added.
Previously, Santavy was named the first alternate in his 85-kilogram weight class for Team Canada for the upcoming Games behind Quebec's Pascal Plamondon.
As such, he will be first in line to compete in Rio, should Plamondon suffer an injury or not be able to compete for any other reason.
Santavy is also considering a move up to the 94-kilogram weight class later this summer because it is more suitable to his growing frame.