Dominican women weightlifters Dahiana Ortiz and Beatriz Pirón have made a resounding statement at the Pan American Senior Weightlifting Championship ongoing in Cali, Colombia, from 12 to 18 July 2025.
Competing in the 48-kilogram category, Dahiana Ortiz won three gold medals. She set a new record with a 85-kilogram snatch and a 105-kilogram clean and jerk, for a remarkable total of 190 kilograms, the Weightlifting Federation (Fedompesas) reports.
Ortiz’s dominant display saw her outclass Brazil’s Emily Rosa Figueiredo, who finished second with a 77-kg snatch and a 100-kg clean and jerk, totaling 177 kg. Venezuela’s Patricia Mercado secured third place, lifting 75 kg and 99 kg for a total of 174 kg.
Veteran lifter Beatriz Pirón once again demonstrated her formidable competitive spirit, earning two gold medals and one bronze in the 53-kilogram category. Pirón executed a 91-kilogram snatch and a 110-kilogram clean and jerk, reaching a total of 201 kilograms. While she excelled in the snatch, she placed third in the clean and jerk.
Pirón’s powerful lifts surpassed those of Venezuela’s Katherin Echandía (87 kg snatch and 112 kg clean and jerk) and Brazil’s Nathasha Rosa Figueiredo (87 kg snatch and 111 kg clean and jerk). Her performance underscores her continued ability to compete at an elite level, even as she recently announced that the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games will mark her final appearance as a high-performance athlete.
The Dominican delegation at the Pan American Weightlifting Championship comprises 16 athletes, guided by head coach Héctor Domínguez, along with technicians Moreno Martínez and Colombia’s Oswaldo Pinilla.
William Ozuna, president of the Dominican Weightlifting Federation, expressed his satisfaction with the outstanding results achieved by Dahiana Ortiz and Beatriz Pirón.
“This event measures how effective our athletes’ preparation is, especially with an eye on our commitment to the Central American and Caribbean Games at home,” Ozuna stated, noting that this is the first competition of the year for Dominican weightlifters. He also extended gratitude to the Ministry of Sports for its financial support, which has been crucial in preparing the athletes for Santo Domingo 2026.
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16 July 2025