JULIO MAYORA AIMS TO TAKE FLIGHT AT THE OLYMPICS AGAIN

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The weightlifting Tokyo 2020 Olympic medalist and two-time Pan American Games champion at Lima 2019 and Santiago 2023 is working hard to arrive ready to compete at Paris 2024.

His goal is to reach the podium and hopefully defeat his great challenger, China’s Shi Zhiyong, who has won everything imaginable in this sport.

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, a young Venezuelan weightlifter surprised everyone. After his final attempt at 199 kilograms in the 73kg division that solidified his silver medal, Julio Mayora celebrated his historic performance with a spectacular backflip.

It was a feat seen around the globe that made the outstanding athlete born in Maiquetia, Venezuela world-renowned.

After Tokyo 2020, Mayora set his sights on winning everything that came before him. And that is how he began the Olympic Cycle, triumphing in every even that he competed. The Bolivarian Games in Valledupar, South American Games in Asuncion, Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador and finishing his outstanding season at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games where he won his second consecutive gold medal at the continental event.

Less than three months have passed since winning another gold at the Pan Am Games, and Julio says he is not resting as he seeks to fulfill his goal of reaching the Olympic podium once again, and this time with hopes of winning the gold medal.

“This year I started on a very good foot, thanks to God, with good energy both physically and psychologically. I think we have a very busy year, with many challenges ahead,” Julio Mayora told Panam Sports in an exclusive interview.

How are you feeling ahead of the year’s first big event, the Pre-Olympic tournament in your homeland of Venezuela?

“I feel very good. It is a qualifier for the Paris Olympic Games, and I hope to achieve a good result. I want to be Pan American champion again and qualify for the Olympics.”

Was Santiago 2023 the great springboard to reach the Olympic Games in a great way?

“Well for me Santiago 2023 was my second Pan American Games and thank God we were able to have a good result and repeat the gold I earned at Lima 2019. I think that from now on, it would be up to us, in the name of God, to change the silver medal to a gold at Paris 2024, that’s what we are preparing for.”

To do this you must defeat Shi Zhiyong of China, an Olympic Champion and world record holder in your category, a task that is not easy…

“Well for me, competing with Shi Zhiyong is a great challenge. I competed with him at Tokyo 2020. He is a very good competitor but I am too and now we are going to meet again at Paris 2024. We are going to see who is who (he laughs) and well the important thing is to have a good result at the Olympic Games.”

First silver medalist in weightlifting for Venezuela, two-time Pan Am Games champion… What’s next for Julio Mayora? Are you going for gold in Paris?

“Well, for me, being the first Olympic medalist in weightlifting in my country is an honor that motivates me to continue working and keep trying harder every day. Everything I have achieved has been thanks to God and because I am very disciplined. I want to have a great result in Paris, I want the gold medal, that’s what I’m working for.”