Six gold medals and a world record for Colombia at the Pan American Weightlifting Championships in Cali.

Sebastián Olivares gave Colombia a resounding victory in the Pan American Weightlifting Championship, held at the Miguel Calero Coliseum in Cali.

Olivares set a world record in the clean and jerk, lifting 191 kg, and a double Pan American record in the clean and jerk and total, lifting 337 kg in the 71-kilogram division.

The Cartagena native, who has been competing for the department of Tolima for two years, took home three gold medals: in the snatch, he lifted 146 kg, plus 191 kg in the clean and jerk, for a total of 337.

"I had it pretty much in my head, pretty much in mind already. First, I wanted to secure the competition and the three gold medals for Colombia, and then I would go for my personal best and the world record," Olivares revealed, in statements reported by Fedepesas.

“You always have to have confidence. Having a medal guaranteed gives you a boost, allowing you to be more confident when performing the movement. These are weights you don't lift every week, but very rarely. I've never touched 191 in the clean and jerk,” he added.

"In every competition, there's a lot of pressure, especially at home, and a lot more lack of focus. You can't rush things and think about what you've done in training. It was a plus; I'm very happy to be able to win at home," said the new champion.

The three silver medals went to Reinner Arango of Venezuela, with a total of 314 kg, divided into 142 kg in the snatch and 172 kg in the clean and jerk. The bronze medals were shared between three athletes: Vicente Montoya of Mexico in the snatch (131 kg), Jimmy López of Ecuador in the clean and jerk (166 kg), and Jonathan Muñoz, also from Mexico, in the total (293 kg).

Jenny Sinisterra also won three gold medals in the 63-kilogram weight class, setting a triple Pan American record in her category.

Sinisterra lifted 104 kg in the snatch and 132 in the clean and jerk, for a total of 236 kg.

On Wednesday, Francisco Mosquera, who returned to competition with the Colombian national team after a long hiatus, improved his personal best by earning three silver medals with a snatch of 135, a clean and jerk of 178, and a total of 313 kg.