Cebu sports scribes name Ando ‘Athlete of the Year’

Sports

GROWING up from one of Cebu City’s hard‑pressed barangays, Elreen Ann Ando turned herself into a decorated weightlifter and became one of the country’s finest athletes.

Ando had a remarkable campaign in 2025 and for this, the two-time Olympian from Barangay Carreta was named Athlete of the Year during the 40th Sportswriters Association of Cebu–San Miguel Brewery (SAC‑SMB) Cebu Sports Awards on Sunday, March 8, at the Ayala Center Cebu Activity Center.

Ando’s athletic journey began when she was influenced by her neighbor, former weightlifter turned coach Garry Hortelano, who later brought her to the University of Cebu (UC)-Main Campus where some members of the Philippine team trained under Cebu’s first Olympic weightlifter and now national coach Ramon Solis.

From the grassroots programs of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and developmental tournaments of the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas, her potential slowly gained recognition.

Ando's record‑breaking performances in major competitions eventually paved her way to the national team, where she earned medals both at home and abroad.

There were times when depression struck, but Ando, as strong as she is, managed to come back even stronger.

That resilience carried her to two Olympic appearances — Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 — and set the stage for what would become her defining year.

Year 2025 was her breakthrough.

The 27-year-old Ando shone at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, China in May last year. She lifted 102 kilograms in the snatch and 130 kilograms in the clean and jerk for a total of 232 kilograms, earning three silver medals in the women’s 64kg division.

Five months later, she made history at the International Weightlifting Federation World Championships in Førde, Norway with her first ever world medal - a bronze in the clean and jerk with a lift of 131 kilograms.

Ando capped her season with a golden moment at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games last December in Chonburi, Thailand where she captured the country's first weightlifting gold of the meet after ruling the women’s 63kg division with a total lift of 229 kilograms. It was her second SEA Games gold following her victory in Cambodia in 2023, reaffirming her supremacy in the region.

Her stellar run in 2025 - a SEA Games gold, a World Championship bronze, and multiple Asian silvers - ultimately carried her to the coveted Athlete of the Year plum.

"Napakalaking karangalan po ito para sa akin bilang isang atleta,” said Ando. “Ito ay hindi lamang para sa akin, kundi para rin sa lahat ng taong sumuporta, naniwala, at tumulong sa aking paglalakbay. Sa aking mga coach, pamilya, ka‑team, at sa lahat na patuloy na nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas at inspirasyon.”

“Patuloy po akong magsisikap, magtitiis, at ibibigay ang aking buong puso sa aking larangan upang maipagmalaki ko ang bansa,” Ando continued. “Malaking inspirasyon po ito para lalo pa akong magsikap at maabot ang mas mataas na pangarap.”(CCM)