Early Career
Juan Felipe Solís Arboleda was born on March 5, 1999, and is a Colombian weightlifter who showed promise in lifting from a young age. He specialized in the technical aspects of the sport, especially in the snatch and clean & jerk, and quickly made his mark in junior competition through strong performances that highlighted both strength and precision.
Solís progressed into senior competitions with solid results in regional meets and international junior championships, building a reputation as one of Colombia’s up‑and‑coming lifters.
Breakthrough and Achievements
A defining moment in his early career came at the Junior World Championships in 2019, where he claimed the gold medal in the clean & jerk and silver overall, signaling his arrival among the world’s best in his weight class. He also earned a bronze medal at the Pan American Games, demonstrating he could hold his own against top competitors from the Americas in major multi‑sport events.
Solís competed in weight categories shaped by the International Weightlifting Federation’s reorganization, typically around the 81 kg division, where his combination of strength and technique paid dividends in both individual lifts.
Achievements
| Competition | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Junior World Championships – Clean & Jerk Gold | 2019 | – |
| Junior World Championships – Silver Overall | 2019 | – |
| Pan American Games – Bronze | – | medal |
| Bolivarian Games – Champion | – | title |
Path to Enhanced Games
Juan Solís has been medically cleared and confirmed as a competitor for the inaugural Enhanced Games in Las Vegas in May 2026. Competing in a format that allows medically supervised performance enhancement marks a shift from traditional weightlifting competitions under international federation sanctioning.
This choice means he will no longer compete in World Weightlifting Federation events, including future Olympic cycles.
What to Expect in Las Vegas
Solís arrives in Las Vegas as an athlete with a strong technical base and international experience, particularly from his Junior World Championship success and Pan American competitive history. In the Enhanced Games environment, where performance optimization is part of the format, his potential could be especially intriguing.
Given his background in clean & jerk and overall lifting prowess, he could be among the standout competitors in the weightlifting field, with attention on his attempts at personal and event records under the new rules.