Ray Santos ranks Top 10 in OWF

Pacific Games multi-medalist weightlifter Ray Santos is ranked in the Top 10 of two weight categories in the Oceania Weightlifting Federation regional rankings for 2023.

He ranks No. 2 in the total weight lifted of 208 kg at a bodyweight of 54.6 kg in the senior men 55-kg weight category.

In the senior men 61-kg weight category, he ranks No. 7 with a total weight lifted of 215 kg at bodyweight of 56.7 kg.

He improved upon his numbers from 2022 when he was also second in the senior men 55-kg with a total weight of 207 kg. In the 61-kg weight class, he ranked No. 7 with a total weight lifted

of 205 kg.

Santos won gold in the snatch lift (96 kg) of the weightlifting competition in the 2023 Pacific Games, won silver in the overall weight lifted (208 kg) and the concurrent OWF Championships, and bronze in the clean & jerk (112 kg).

The 32-year-old teacher aide at Koblerville Elementary School said of his Top 10 placement, “I’m blessed to be able to compete despite injuries and being able to place in the Top 10. I feel good, I worked hard and made sacrifices so I’m proud of myself for making it to the Top 10.”

Asked if he expected to make the shortlist, he said, “No I wasn’t expecting anything. I’m just really after the Oceania records for the 55-kg weight class.”

He said he will not be competing in the OWF Championships this year despite his knees feeling a lot better. He said it’s still not at “110%.” During his competition in the Pacific Games, Santos felt his knees hurting during his clean & jerk lifts but still managed to win bronze.

As for when he will compete next, he said, “I can’t say. We shall see.”

On what he’s been up to post competition, he said, “I started training again and just focusing on regaining the strength I lost from the injury. Also maintaining my weight so I don’t have to cut a lot before a competition. Whatever God has planned for me with upcoming competitions, I will just continue training, keeping my weight in check, and see from there.”

According to the OWF website, the OWF was established on Nov. 6, 1980, in Melbourne, Australia. Since 1980 with the exception of 1983, 1991, and 1995, annual championships have been held.

In 1993 in Nauru the first South Pacific Championships was held together with the Oceania Championships. Since then, the two Championships have been held simultaneously.