Leowell wins gold, breaks PBs in Miami tournament

Leowell Cristobal attempts a clean & jerk lift during the Miami Classic Weightlifting Competition in Bayfront Park, Miami, Florida. He won gold in the 67-kg division and broke his personal bests in both the snatch and clean & jerk lifts. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Airman Leowell Cristobal continues to make light work of heavy implements as he struck gold along with breaking his personal bests in the Miami Classic Weightlifting Competition in conjunction with Wodapalooza last Jan. 15 in Bayfront Park, Miami, Florida.

In the 67-kg weight class, the 24-year-old completed all three snatch lifts successfully, from 93 kg, 98 kg, then his now personal best of 102 kg.

In the clean & jerk portion, Cristobal lifted his personal best of 134 kg in his second attempt, successfully lifted 127 kg in the first attempt, and missed 140 kg in his third and last attempt.

His total weight lifted was a whopping 236 kg and had the highest sinclair score of 322. The score is obtained by multiplying the lifter’s snatch and clean & jerk total by a coefficent which is based on body weight. 

Cristobal said his previous bests were 96 kg in the snatch and 127 kg in the clean & jerk. 

He never stopped training after the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022 last June and said “I’ve been training for this event since August.”

The now Panama City, Florida resident then gave kudos to his brother, Leonardo, for helping him out during the competition, “so huge thanks to him.” He also gives a happy advance birthday to his mother, Ana Marie Cristobal.

Along with his accomplishments in the competition, Cristobal has completed his USA Weightlifting, or USAW Level 2 certification. 

“One of my goals is to become a USAW-nationally certified coach and getting my Level 2 was a step toward that. Going through the course has helped me as an athlete and future coach to better understand aspects of weightlifting, from programming to technique,” he said.

As for the chance to represent the CNMI in weightlifting once again, he said “If given the opportunity, I’ll be ready for the [Micronesian] Games and Pacific Games when the time comes.”

The 10th Micronesian Games will be held in July 2023 in Majuro, Marshall Islands, while the 2023 Pacific Games will be held in Honiara, Solomon Islands between Nov. 9 and Dec. 2, 2023.

In the Mini Games last June, Cristobal handed the CNMI its first silver medal of the games after lifting 125 kg in the clean & jerk. 

He didn’t stop there as right after, he won two silver medals in the U.S. Weightlifting U25 Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada last July. His best lift was 126 kg in the clean & jerk.

Then, the medals kept coming for Cristobal as he topped his weight group in the Buccaneer Barbell Bash weightlifting meet in Florida last October. He bagged the gold medal in the 67-kg division after totaling 223 kg. He lifted 96 kg in the snatch and 127 kg in the clean & jerk.

Cristobal enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for two years before he got accepted into the Air Force Academy in 2018. It was at the academy where he started a weightlifting club. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy on May 25, 2022, with a bachelor of science degree in Behavioral Sciences. He entered the Air Force as a commissioned officer and second lieutenant.

Aside from weightlifting, Cristobal also shines in his military career, having received the top former regular enlisted graduate award, and the Horner Award with the highest class honors.