Vencelas Dabaya

{{Short description|French weightlifter (born 1981)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{MedalTableTop|Vencelas Dabaya.jpg|250px}}

{{MedalSport | Men's Weightlifting}}

{{MedalCountry | {{FRA}} }}

{{MedalCompetition| Olympic Games}}

{{MedalSilver| 2008 Beijing | 69 kg}}

{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}

{{MedalGold | 2006 Santo Domingo | – 69 kg}}

{{MedalBronze | 2005 Doha | – 69 kg}}

{{MedalCompetition|European Championships}}

{{MedalGold | 2007 Strasbourg | – 69 kg}}

{{MedalSilver | 2008 Lignano Sabbiadoro | – 69 kg}}

{{MedalSilver | 2009 Bucharest | – 69 kg}}

{{MedalSilver | 2012 Antalya | – 69 kg}}

{{MedalBronze| 2006 Władysławowo | – 69 kg}}

{{MedalCountry | {{CMR}} }}

{{MedalCompetition|Commonwealth Games}}

{{MedalGold | 2002 Manchester | – 69 kg}}

{{MedalCompetition|African Games}}

{{MedalBronze | 1999 Johannesburg | – 62 kg}}

{{MedalBottom}}

Vencelas Dabaya Tientcheu (born 28 April 1981 in Kumba, Cameroon) is a French weightlifter. He is a former World Champion, European champion and Olympic silver medalist in weightlifting.

At the 2004 Summer Olympics he represented Cameroon, and was flag bearer of the Cameroonian team at the opening ceremony.{{cite news|title=Cameroon Olympic Team|url=http://www.cameroon-info.net/cmi_show_news.php?id=15015|access-date=2008-08-13|work=Cameroon-info|date=2004-08-21|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808023703/http://www.cameroon-info.net/cmi_show_news.php?id=15015|archive-date=2007-08-08|url-status=dead}} In the Olympic tournament he ranked 5th in the 69 kg category, with a total of 327.5 kg.{{cite web|title=DABAYA TIENTCH.|publisher=International Weightlifting Federation|url=http://www.iwf.net/results/results_athlete_e.php?compid=481}} He represents France since he became naturalized French citizen in November 2004.{{cite news|title=Althérophilie:Yamechi Madeleine, championne de France|url=http://www.cameroon-info.net/cmi_show_news.php?id=18713|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724024315/http://www.cameroon-info.net/cmi_show_news.php?id=18713|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-24|access-date=2008-08-12|work=Cameroon-info|date=2007-01-15|language=fr}}

He won the bronze medal in the 69 kg category at the 2005 World Weightlifting Championships.

Dabaya participated in the men's -69 kg class at the 2006 World Weightlifting Championships and won the gold medal, snatching 146 kg and jerking an additional 186 kg for a total of 332 kg.[http://www.iwf.net/results/results_results.php?placecod=8 75th MEN'S and 18th WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS -69 KG MEN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202000000/http://www.iwf.net/results/results_results.php?placecod=8 |date=2008-12-02 }}, iwf.net With his gold medal, became weightlifting's 500th World Champion and received the special IWF Award for this honour.{{cite news|title=Frenchman Dabaya is the 500th World Champion|url=http://www.iwf.net/2006/10/02/frenchman-dabaya-is-the-500th-world-champion/| access-date=2016-02-07|work=www.iwf.net|date=2006-10-02}}

At the 2007 World Weightlifting Championships he ranked 4th in the 69 kg category.

He won the silver medal in the 69 kg category at the 2008 European Weightlifting Championships, lifting a total of 333 kg.{{cite web|title=DABAYA Vencelas|publisher=International Weightlifting Federation|url=http://www.iwf.net/results/results_athlete_e.php?compid=214}}

At the 2008 Summer Olympics he won the silver medal in the 69 kg category, lifting a total of 338 kg.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

He won gold in the clean and jerk, bronze in the snatch, and overall silver with a total of 333 kg at the 2009 European Weightlifting Championships in the 69 kg category.{{cite news|url= https://www.lequipe.fr/Aussi/breves2009/20090407_210848_dabaya-en-argent.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090409110333/http://www.lequipe.fr/Aussi/breves2009/20090407_210848_dabaya-en-argent.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= April 9, 2009|title= Haltérophilie - ChE - Dabaya en argent|language= fr|newspaper= L'Équipe|date= 2009-04-07|access-date= 2009-04-13}}

He is {{convert|167|cm|ftin}} tall and weighs {{convert|72|kg|lb}}.{{cite web|url= http://pekin.franceolympique.com/pekin/athletes/2/dabaya_tientcheu-29622.html|title= Vencelas DABAYA TIENTCHEU|publisher= French National Olympic Committee|access-date= 2008-12-06|language=fr}}