Cuba remains on top in the men’s Pan American Weightlifting event after scoring 601 points at the Parque del Este in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Following Cuba, winner of eight gold medals, 10 silver and two bronze, were Colombia and Venezuela with 597 and 496 points, respectively.

This result is a repeat of the success the team attained at last year’s competition - held on the island of Margarita, Venezuela – securing the maximum six tickets to the Pan American Games 2015, in Toronto, Canada. In the women’s competition, Colombia took first place with a total score of 523 points, surpassing Venezuela (489) and the Dominican Republic (470).

The competition’s Outstanding Male Athlete award went to Colombia’s Oscar Figueroa, in the 69 kilogram category, winner of three gold medals. Yudelkis Contreras was named Outstanding Female Athlete in the 53kg category, owner of two gold medals and a new Pan American Snatch record.

During the final day of the competition, June 1, Ecuadorian David Arroyo won two gold medals in the 105kg category; one in the first round with a 180kg lift and winning the overall competition with a 285kg lift; as well as a sliver in the Clean and Jerk (205kg), in which Cuban Alejandro Cisnero (206kg) took first place, with Ian Wilson (200kg) from the U.S. winning bronze.

Jorge Luis Barcelán, head Cuban coach, said that his disciples achieved a fantastic result in a very tough competition, in which 247 competitors from 23 countries participated. Barcelán attributed the victory, in large part, to the good preparation and discipline of his students.

He extended his thanks to the Pan American Weightlifting Federation and its President, William Ozuna, for giving the Cuban weightlifters the oportunity to train in the tournament arena, two weeks before the competition, enabling them to stabilize their body weights, as well as their work and rest routine.