The women's weightlifting 44kg category at Buenos Aires 2018

Summer Youth Olympics 2018 

The women's weightlifting 44kg category at 

Buenos Aires 2018

Gold Medal Win the Katherin Oriana Echandia 

Zarate (VEN

BUENOS AIRES - The women's weightlifting 44kg Category at Buenos Aires 2018

There were tears of joy for Venezuela’s Katherin Oriana Echandia Zarate after the 17-year-old weightlifter won the women's 44kg event at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games on Sunday.

Echandia Zarate has set her sights firmly on an Olympic gold medal, and her victory brought a roar of relief, as well as payback for the blood, sweat and tears that go into making a champion.

“The sacrifices you make are so hard,” she said after lifting 72kg in the snatch and 90kg in the clean & jerk to total 162kg for the gold.

“I train everyday for the YOG. I missed the Opening Ceremony yesterday (to prepare for the event) and I can’t eat sweets as I’m on a diet.

“All of the sacrifices are worthwhile. I prepare very well and always have a positive attitude. I just won a gold medal for my country. I’m so excited.”

In the snatch, the Venezuelan was pushed all the way by Vietnam’s Thi Thu Trang Nguyen in a hard-fought duel. The pair shared top spot with lifts of 72kg going into the clean & jerk.

In the end, Nguyen had to concede the gold medal, managing only one good lift in the clean & jerk at 75kg.

“It’s so sad I failed to take the gold,” 15-year-old Nguyen said. “I didn’t perform well at the beginning and failed in my first lift in the snatch.”

Nida Karasakal (TUR) came third with 138kg after finishing third in the snatch with 60kg and second in the clean & jerk with 78kg.

“My expectation here was to perform my best,” she said. “I prepared all year to achieve that goal. I’m so happy to win the bronze.”