Filipino weightlifting prodigy Albert Ian Delos Santos added another milestone to his growing international résumé after setting a new world record in the men’s 71kg clean and jerk at the 2026 IWF World Junior Championships on Monday, May 4.

The 19-year-old successfully lifted 187kg to secure the gold medal, surpassing his previous junior world record of 185kg set in the 2025 IWF World Championships.

The victory marks his third world junior title and further extends his dominance in the division, where he has repeatedly raised the benchmark over the past year.

Delos Santos has been on a steady record-breaking run, first breaking into the world record books in 2025 before improving his lift to 186kg at the Southeast Asian Games. His latest performance in Egypt confirmed his upward trajectory on the global stage.

Despite battling a recent back injury during training, Delos Santos said he pushed through the setback in a shortened preparation window leading up to the competition.

The lift capped off a strong campaign in Ismailia, where he maintained composure under pressure to secure both the gold medal and another entry in the world record books.

His continued rise strengthens the Philippines’ standing in international weightlifting, with Delos Santos now emerging as one of the sport’s leading junior figures heading into senior-level competitions.