Weights: Sicily confirms its leadership and dominates the podium at the Under 17 national championships

The Sicily of weightlifting is reaching new heights. The weekend confirmed the excellence of the Sicilian weightlifting school, which continues to launch young talents into the spotlight, much to the delight of Fipe Sicilia president Salvatore Parla and the technical manager and federal advisor, master Maurizio Sardo.

At the Under 17 Tricolori that concluded today in Rome, Sicily swept the podiums and set new Italian records, with many of these athletes now having the opportunity to wear the blue jersey at the Junior World Championships scheduled for May in Egypt.

Alessandro and Samuel Cocuzza (Catania Pesistica Olimpica)

Samuel Cocuzza (Catania Pesistica Olimpica) and Samuel Mondi (Antudo Weightlifting) on the podium

The first Italian title is signed by the Etnean talent Samuel Cocuzza, a student at Catania Pesistica Olimpica under his father Alessandro. In the 55 kg category, Samuel Cocuzza, born in 2009 and recovering from a long injury, won gold in the snatch with 84 kg, gold in the clean and jerk with 101 kg, and gold in the total with 185 kg. In this category, Sicily also had the peloritano Samuel Mondi (Antudo Weightlifting) taking bronze with a total of 162 kg (69+93).

The champions of the Floridia Boxing Team Gianmarco Maesano, Nicolò and Samuele Aliano, and coach Anthea Spinoso

Leonardo Zanghì (Antudo Weightlifting) bronze in the 65 kg, in action

And the men's competitions continued to speak Sicilian as two more extraordinary titles were added, along with a Italian record. In the 65 kg category, the athlete from Aretusa, Nicolò Aliano (Floridia Boxing Team), triumphed finally in the 65 kg, after a bronze and a silver in the previous two years. The student of coach Anthea Spinoso won in all specialties: gold in the snatch with 95 kg, gold in the clean and jerk with 117 kg, and in total with 212 kg, not far from his personal best of 215 kg. Bronze for the athlete from Peloritano, Leonardo Zanghì (Antudo Weightlifting) with 200 kg (88+112).

Mattia Riggi (Gs Fiamme Oro) on the podium

From the 70 kg category came an extraordinary performance from the athlete from Nisseno, Mattia Riggi (Gs Fiamme Oro), with the student of former Olympian Mirco Scarantino winning three golds: 111 kg in the snatch, 134 kg in the clean and jerk, and a total of 245 kg, all new Italian Under 17 records.

Gianmarco Maesano (Floridia Boxing Team) in action

Not to be outdone in the 75 kg category, the athlete from Aretusa, Gianmarco Maesano, achieved a triple gold with three Italian records: 112 in the snatch, 140 in the clean and jerk, and 252 kg in total. The balance of Sicilian men concluded with the bronze of the athlete from Aretusa, Samuele Aliano (Floridia Boxing Team), who won bronze in the 85 kg category with a total of 228 kg (95+133).

The Peloritano Aurora Schepis (Antido Weightlifting) in action

The Palermitana Ilenia Vella (Jaguar Club) in action

The Sicilian girls enchanted with the peloritana Aurora Schepis (Antudo Weightlifting) triumphing in the 53 kg category with a total of 150 kg (68+82) and the first title of her career in the 69 kg category for the Palermitan Ilenia Vella (Jaguar Club) with a total of 64 kg (77+87).

And among the girls, the silver of the other Palermitan Marta Chinnici (O. D.Fitness) stands out, winning silver in the 61 kg category with a total of 141 kg (60+81).

The Palermitan Marta Chinnici (O. D. Fintess) wins silver in the 61 kg