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Cristobal bags gold in Buccaneer Barbell Bash
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Posted on Oct 10 2022
Leowell Cristobal in action during the recent Buccaneer Barbell Bash weightlifting meet in Florida. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Mini Games silver medalist Leowell Cristobal continued to make his home islands proud by topping his weight group in the recent Buccaneer Barbell Bash weightlifting meet in Florida.
The 23-year-old U.S. Air Force Academy graduate bagged the gold medal in the 67-kg division after totaling 223 kg. He lifted personal bests of 96 kg in the snatch and 127 kg in the clean and jerk.
He started the jerk with a weight of 85 kg before adding 6 kg to his successful second attempt (91 kg) and then cleare his third and last attempt at 96 kg.
In the clean and jerk, the son of Leonardo Sr. and Ana Marie Cristobal lifted 120 kg in his first attempt. He then cleared 127 kg in his second before failing in his attempt at 134 kgs in his third and final lift.
CNMI Weightlifting president John Davis congratulated Cristobal for his gold medal in the Buccaneer Barbell Bash.
“For the record, Leowell is, by far, the CNMI’s most prolific weightlifter,” he said.
For his part, Cristobal is just glad all his hard work has paid off.
“I’m pretty happy with my performance. I’ve been putting in the work and I’m confident about PRs in the future…For now I’ve been working on my weaknesses and getting stronger on my pulls and squats
He also dedicated his gold medal in the Buccaneer Barbell Bash to his family, especially his niece, Micah Elisse
“I’m dedicating this achievement to my family, friends, and my niece who’s almost her first birthday.”
A few months ago, Cristobal won two silver medals in the U.S. Weightlifting U25 Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022 last June, Cristobal won a bronze medal in the clean and jerk portion of the 67-kg class.
Cristobal enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for two years before he got accepted into the Air Force Academy in 2018. It was at the academy where he started a weightlifting club. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy on May 25, 2022, with a bachelor of science degree in Behavioral Sciences; he entered the Air Force as a commissioned officer and second lieutenant.
Aside from weightlifting, Cristobal also shines in his military career, having received the top former regular enlisted graduate award, and the Horner Award with the highest class honors.
