Clermont Sports Haltérophilie Shines at 2025 French Senior Weightlifting Championships
Clermont Sports Haltérophilie secures medals and sets records at the French Championships in Dunkerque.
Key Points
- • Clermont Sports Haltérophilie won two medals at the French Senior Championships.
- • Alexis Rossi set three French records in the 61 kg category, finishing second.
- • Ophélie Cailleau secured third place in the 59 kg category with a total lift of 182 kg.
- • Jean-Baptiste Yanou Ketchanke finished fourth in the 81 kg category, just missing the podium.
Clermont Sports Haltérophilie achieved impressive results at the 2025 French Senior Weightlifting Championships held in Dunkerque, winning two medals on June 14. Alexis Rossi, who recently became the U20 champion, made a remarkable debut in the senior category by finishing second in the 61 kg weight class. He set three new French records with lifts of 101 kg in the snatch, 120 kg in the clean and jerk, and a total of 221 kg. Rossi reflected on his achievement, stating, "I’m 18 years old, I went without pressure for my first senior championships. I knew I had something to play for. I’m happy; I achieved my best total, breaking three French records. Competing with the seniors was a great experience."
In the women's competition, Ophélie Cailleau secured a third place finish in the 59 kg category, lifting a total of 182 kg, which included 82 kg in the snatch and 100 kg in the clean and jerk. Another competitor from Clermont, Noa Loubere-Claverie, placed 10th in the same weight class.
Jean-Baptiste Yanou Ketchanke, participating in the 81 kg category, narrowly missed out on a medal with a fourth-place finish, lifting a total of 286 kg. He expressed satisfaction despite the close result, saying, "I only had three weeks of preparation and lost over 5 kg to compete in this category. I missed a final lift that could have made me champion. Competing against promising young athletes is a positive experience for me." Coach Laurent Pedreno praised the team's performance, expressing joy over Rossi's records and the overall outcomes, stating, "We came for medals, and it went well. The joy comes from his three French records. Jean-Baptiste fought hard until the end; with better preparation next year, he will contend for the title."