Barry Wright
Sarnia's Boady Santavy gave himself an early birthday present by qualifying for the upcoming Pan-Am Games in Toronto.
He punched his ticket to the July event by finishing second in the 85-kilo weight class and fourth overall at the Canadian Senior Weightlifting Championships in Mississauga over the Victoria Day weekend, less than a week before his 18th birthday.
The top seven men were named to the Canadian weightlifting team for the Games.
Santavy registered a 145 kilograms lift in the snatch and 175 kilograms in the clean and jerk. Both were personal bests. His total of 320 kilograms was only 12 kilos behind the winner, a Quebec lifter who is five years his senior.
“I'm really excited, for sure,” said Santavy, who feels he can crack the top five before a supportive Canadian crowd.
He'll tune up for Toronto by competing at the World Junior Weightifting Championships in Wroclaw, Poland next month, where he hopes to capture at least a bronze medal. He has also qualified for the World Senior Weightifting Championship in Houston in late November.
“I'll be leaving for the (Pan-Am) athletes village in early July and will be there for the opening ceremonies,” said Santavy. His event is scheduled for the Oshawa Sports Centre on July 13.
The St. Patrick’s High School student becomes the third generation of his family to compete on the international stage, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Bob and his father, Dalas.
“I'm very proud of him,” said Dalas. “His progression this year has been awesome.”
He credits the moral backing of family and friends and support from Chem-Fab Industries and We Are Fitness for helping his oldest son succeed.
While not wanting to get too far ahead of himself, the younger Santavy has also set his sights set on competing at the Olympics, perhaps as early as next year in Brazil.
“I'd like to win a medal at the Olympics,” he said.