Nineteen year-old weightlifter Abdeel Noemí “Mimi” Rodriguez of Puerto Peñasco conquered her first PanAmerican Youth Games in Cali, Colombia on Nov. 29th, taking home gold in the over 87 kilo category. Rodriguez dominated her category after lifting 246 KG in all, with 108 kg in snatch and 138 kg in clean and jerk. This performance helps seal her direct ticket to the 2023 Adult PanAmerican Games to be held in Santiago de Chile.
The Sonoran Athletic Commission detailed the gold medal was the first for Sonora at the recent Youth PanAmerican Games, which took place in Colombia from Nov. 25th – Dec. 5th. In an interview with the Sonoran Athletic Commission, Rodriguez remarked, “Honestly I feel satisfied, though always with the urge to have lifted more. Even so, I broke my mark, I had a lot of adrenaline and some nerves, but the results came out. It’s been a great year…I’m a little tired, and after it all I’d like to spend some time at home with family and friends, but we also have to prepare for 2022 to continue to give it our all.”
The pride of Puerto Peñasco – Sonora – and Mexico itself, remarked in a press conference that after having achieved this success, her sights are now set on getting to the 2024 Olympic Games. Her trainer and father, Victor Rodriguez Anaya, thanked all the sponsors, authorities, and all who helped make this a spectacular end of the year for Mimí Rodríguez.
Congrats, Mimi!!