Vallenilla Sanchez Keydomar Giovanni

Keydomar Giovanni Vallenilla Sánchez, born on October 8th, 1999, is a Venezuelan weightlifter who has made  a name for himself in the 89 kg and 96 kg weight categories. He won a silver medal in the men’s 96 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and a gold medal in the men’s 89 kg event at the 2022 World Weightlifting Championships in Bogotá, Colombia. Vallenilla’s rise in the sport speaks of his dedication and talent. 

His weightlifting journey started in Caracas, when he was 11, inspired by his physical education teacher and coach, Henry Velasquez. Despite the challenges he faced, his hard work quickly paid off. He made his international debut at the 2017 Pan American Championships in Miami. 

In 2018, he earned a bronze medal in the clean and jerk at the World Weightlifting Championships in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, in the 89 kg category. He continued his success in 2019, when he won a bronze medal in the snatch at the World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, and another bronze in the 96 kg event at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. 

Vallenilla’s career soared at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where he won a silver medal in the men’s 96 kg category. He continued his winning streak with gold at the 2021 Pan American Weightlifting Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and another bronze at the World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

2022 was a great year for Vallenilla – he won gold at the Bolivarian Games and the South American Games in the 96 kg category. At the World Weightlifting Championships in Bogotá, he won a gold medal in the 89 kg category. He continued being successful in 2023, with a gold medal at the Pan American Weightlifting Championships in Bariloche, Argentina, and a bronze at the World Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

His family and coach, Henry Velasquez, have been crucial for his success. Julio Luna, a fellow Venezuelan weightlifter, is his inspiration, and he lives by the motto, “You set the limits”. Vallenilla is always pushing himself to achieve more. 

He has also studied Physical Education at the Pedagogical Institute of Caracas, where he was able to blend his athletic career with academic knowledge.