Weightlifting: “I blew them!” Gersois Silvio Catanoso once again crowned champion of France

Truncated preparation or not, the result is often the same with Silvio Catanoso. Last Saturday, in Vaucluse, with an Olympic total of 197 kg – equaling his own continental record – the Auscitain won his third national title in a row. The athlete-writer made short work of his opponents in the over 65 and under 81 kg category. “I exploded them,” he gloats. I put 20 kg on each of them! » Although he swaggers with a medal in his hands, the game was far from won before he entered the track. “I was waiting. » Backlash from the world title, contraction of Covid, knee injury…

But the shape of one day is not the shape of the next. “I secured the first bar in the snatch. I started at 78 kg and saw that I was doing really well. Same at 82 kg, it passed easily. » Why, then, not try to establish a new French record. “At 86 kg, the bar has also been passed! »

“I still equaled my European record”

On the second movement, the clean and jerk, “I didn’t take any risks”. “I started at 108 kg, then I gained 111 kg. Both passed. Then I tried to break the European record for Olympic total, gaining 115 kg. » This one, on the other hand, will wait a little longer before falling. “I still equaled my European record at 197 kg,” Silvio Catanoso rightly insists.

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A performance which allowed the Gersois to kill two birds with one stone, at the same time winning the distinction of best athlete of these French championships. “What’s interesting is that, thanks to an algorithm that takes into account weight, age and performance, everyone has a chance,” explains the three-time national champion. However, the young retiree has not yet finished the “game”. “Next year, I absolutely want to be champion of France, Europe and the world. » A challenge worthy of its ambition.