Mexican Weightlifter Jose Lino Montes Leaves London on a Good Note [2]
Jose Lino Montes, one of Mexico’s top weightlifters placed sixth in the final classification of the -56 kg category in weightlifting. Despite not coming home with a medal, Montes fulfilled his lifelong dream of competing in the Olympics [3]. In addition, he represented Mexico for the first time in almost 30 years in the Olympic sport of weightlifting.
Montes’ road to where he is today was arduous, and he described his youth as a “sad story”. Born in Yucatan, he farmed crops and did everything he could along with his six brothers to make ends meet. Weightlifting proved to be a talent of his, and a way to a better life. Montes expressed that his constant effort towards the sport improved his lifestyle.
After his final competition in London, he exclaimed, “I'm really happy. I enjoyed this test and I gave everything, all of my heart. I have overcome my personal record and now I'm the best in Latin America. I am proud."
From someone who went from working so hard as a kid and “having no childhood”, to finishing close to the top three, Jose Lino Montes has a lot to be proud of.
Looking towards the future, he hopes to rebuild the way in which Mexico stands in the weightlifting world. Jose yearns to intertwine the sport more deeply into the roots and traditions of his country. By doing so, he believes the emergence of Mexico’s undiscovered talent in the sport would lead to improving results in international competition. The future looks bright for the nation’s weightlifting presence, and Montes can leave knowing he has made a big footprint at the 2012 London Olympic Games.