WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING No.149

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF INTERNATIONAL WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION

PHOTO: JÓZSEF SZAKA

A FAMILY AFFAIR FOR LYU XIAOYUN AT 35, THE FABULOUS CHAMPION KEEPS WINNING

SPECIAL ISSUE 2019 IWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, PATTAYA

Published by International Weightlifting Federation DR. TAMÁS AJÁN IWF President IOC Honorary Member MOHAMMED JALOOD IWF General Secretary Editor-in-Chief KORNÉL JANCSÓ Senior Editor ANIKÓ NÉMETH-MÓRA Media and Communication Manager ADRIENN SZÁSZ Photos JÓZSEF SZAKA Art Editor Crazy Panda Studio Graphic Design Marcell Studio (www.marcelltamas.hu) Spanish & Russian Editions DAVID COLON ARROYO MARINA SHAFIT ÁGNES LUKÁCSFALVI

Printed by TypoNova (www.typonova.hu) All communications: world.weightlifting@iwfnet.net www.iwf.net facebook.com/iwfnet twitter.com/iwfnet instagram.com/iwfnet youtube.com/iwfmedia Any articles, results or photos published in WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING may be reproduced without the written consent of the IWF, however, reference should be made to this publication.

CONTENTS No.149 02-03 | FOREWORD 04-05 | 2019 IWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, PATTAYA, THA 06-25 |

2019 WWC - WOMEN

28-47 |

2019 WWC – MEN

ISSN 0230-3035

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 1

› FOREWORD

FOREWORD

2

Dear Friends, 019: another significant year in the life of the IWF as it has already mustered up quite a few momentous landmarks of our sport. My history as a member of the IWF leadership goes back to almost half a century, so I do have the foundations to compare; and looking at the most recent developments I can definitely state that we are going to close a very exciting year. That includes all the aspects of management, organisation and leadership.

However, it remains our priority that we have done, and we shall do, everything possible in order for weightlifting to stay on the Olympic programme! The IWF Executive Board was unanimous in standing by this objective, confirming the Olympic Games as the peak event of the sport, and all members of the Board were unison on this when I asked them, one by one, to state their position, at our meeting in Pattaya, prior to the World Championships.

Something about the preliminaries: the International Olympic Committee had issued a very serious warning to our sport due to the situation in doping. I think it was as an utterly helpful and progressive move, because I had been working against doping in weightlifting in the past fifty years, not sparing energy and with the hardest determination, but I just have to acknowledge that in some countries of the world my efforts have been met with a stumbling block.

We need to be honest and open: competitors, athletes’ entourage and weightlifting officials in those countries, with the mission to achieve top results and win medals, have received support from the highest levels to using performance enhancing methods that qualify as doping. I would refrain from naming any countries, while they have representatives on our Executive Board who eventually forget the sport’s global interests and oppose new concepts, harsh rulings and obstruct the processes we want to implement to clean the sport. It is a sad fact that through supporting the application of forbidden drugs some nations have cheated the rest of the weightlifting society in an unfair manner.

The IOC’s warning thus “did the job” in giving a big push in our fight on doping. Their support and recognition of the IWF’s important moves towards cleaning weightlifting were instrumental in the battle. Yet, it is very difficult to pull this programme through and succeed when some national federations are still getting assistance and encouragement from the highest authorities to frustrate the IWF’s actions towards jurisdiction independent from us and measures of good governance. Our decisions in this direction were deemed as key factors in saving weightlifting on future Olympic Games, and, at the same time, they are expected to result in a dramatic drop in the number of positive cases.

We have been glad to note greater global awareness and transparency regarding our efforts and, parallel, the improvement of the image of weightlifting, the fading of the stigma on our sport. That is something we must not lose!

I am sure the majority of the 97 participating countries of the 2019 Pattaya World Championships would share my joy over an increasing diversity in the medal allocation, over more balanced chances of qualification. All the more I feel sad that our Executive Board (as it came out at our Pattaya meeting) does not always seem to be united in the interpretation of the significance of taking the decision-making process out of the realm of politics. Colleagues of mine and I were frustrated in seeing four or five of the EB members still insisting on taking back the right of “selfjurisdiction” from an independent body appointed by the IWF; a move judged by the IOC and WADA as an outright step back in our credibility and transparency. We came to the brink of a split in two of the Executive Board… Some people

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just do not realize that by pushing such agenda and prioritizing national interests they play with fire. I know that such officials and those supporting them will disappear, sooner or later, from sport and its leadership, but now we need to unite our efforts to act against these dangerous trends.

In 2018, upon the proposal of an – independent – Clean Sport Commission, the IWF Executive Board created an Independent Member Federations Sanctions Panel, composed of renowned international lawyers and experts whose independence from the sport is guaranteed, to make decisions involving the MFs. Yet, certain colleagues would still like to have such issues being handled, and decided, by the Executive Board. As for me, with the IOC backing, I fully oppose such suggestions and insist that these matters shall be arbitrated and resolved by a group of lawyers and other professionals vested with the necessary expertise and entirely independent from the sport of weightlifting.

Therefore, I trust in the wise apprehension of those few colleagues who would now like to see it otherwise. With clean weightlifting on our banner, this is a priority issue, because of the Olympic future of weightlifting.

Meanwhile, the revolutionary rules, especially the Olympic qualification regulations, have proven to be extremely successful in creating a level playing field in our sport. We have 2 times 10 bodyweight categories in our programme, of which 7 men’s and 7 women’s featuring on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. To date about 1,500 competitors from 120 countries are registered in the qualification system, and let us remember: each Olympic aspirant must participate a minimum 6 times, 2 per period, and is thus permanently subject to anti-doping testing! Thanks to the BronzeSilver-Gold Qualification Event status, the IWF calendar has virtually exploded: we have seen an unprecedented abundance of international events each of which has a chance of welcoming even the biggest stars in our sport! Their frequent appearance on stage is undoubtedly a great asset to weightlifting and a welcome popularization of the sport worldwide.

Our anti-doping program has by now been transferred to ITA (International Testing Agency); our MF jurisdiction has been outsourced: those were the two weightiest factors when the IOC lifted weightlifting’s conditional status for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. But their monitoring eyes are still on us and we must be relentless in pursuing the tough line even if we are subject to criticism by those negatively affected. I am confident that in time everyone will acknowledge that this road is the only road to keeping the sport in the Games: the absolute priority for weightlifting’s future.

DR. TAMÁS AJÁN IWF PRESIDENT

Dr. Tamás Aján in company of the leaders of Thai weightlifting: Maj.Gen. Intarat Yodbangtoey, IWF 1st Vice President and Ms. Boossaba Yodbangtoey, President TAWA, at the World Championships in Pattaya

› 2019 IWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, PATTAYA, THA TEXT: KORNÉL JANCSÓ, ANIKÓ NÉMETH-MÓRA PHOTO: JÓZSEF SZAKA

PATTAYA HITS NEW RECORD IN NATIONS DESPITE HOME COUNTRY’S ABSENCE

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unique and unprecedented situation – which we hope will never be repeated – developed in Pattaya: due to multiple doping cases produced by Thai athletes and the Thai Weightlifting Association’s subsequent voluntary Undertaking to abstain from competitions on the world stage, the athletes of the host country were not able appear and lift on the platform of the 2019 IWF World Championships. These sad circumstances certainly left an impact on the event otherwise very well prepared and as usual professionally organised by the Thais, but not on the turnout figures. With 97 countries from all over the world bringing their strong men and women to the famous Thai resort in an attempt to qualify them for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, this WWC hit a new record in nations. Another country that had to stay away from the WWC (sanctioned for similar reasons) was Egypt.

Notwithstanding the absentees, altogether 588 weightlifters took part, which is a figure very close to the previous maximum. Very important to note here that gender equality was almost reached: nearly half of the participants were women. Iran sent its first ever female team to the World Championships and this was Botswana’s first WC appearance as well. However, quantity did not work to the detriment of quality. In most of the categories world records were born.

Including those set in youth and junior age groups, a total of 60 new world records were registered in the ten women’s and ten men’s bodyweight categories. Taking only the senior records into account, we could witness 16 women’s and 18 men’s new marks; in six female and in seven male categories.

The lack of the usually enthusiastic and loud Thai crowds was well compensated by the participating teams who came to support their mates and help them achieve success on the WC stage.

The distribution of the medals turned out to be once again remarkable. In women 20 countries, in men 21 countries were able to collect medals. In both tallies China towered above the field with its female lifters clinching 30 of the available

Biggest bulk ever: 264kg overhead by TALAKHADZE Lasha!

Best Lifter Woman of the World Championships DENG Wei with her trophy and the presenters: JANCSÓ Kornél, Dr. AJÁN Tamás and ASANIDZE Georgi, Talakhadze’s coach

90 medals (!), among those 16 in gold.

Chinese men won 23 medals of which 13 gold. Looking only at the total (without the individual classification for snatch and clean and jerk), China swept 5 female categories with gold, plus 3 silver and 2 bronze medals; while its male team won 5-2-1 medals of the same type. This calculation gives the following further ranking of total-medal winning nations: A) Women: 2nd PRK (1-3-2), 3rd USA (1-1-1), 4-6th COL (1-0-0), TPE (1-0-0) and TUR (1-0-0). B) Men: 2nd ARM (2-1-1), 3th PRK (1-1-1), 4th BLR (1-1-0), 5th GEO (1-0-2).

In the continental comparison Asia wins in both genders. Among the ladies 9 Asian countries won at least one medal, while 6 Pan-American and 5 European nations boast medals. In men, 11 Asian countries scored medals, with the further ranking putting the 7 European nations in second position; Pan-America with 2 and Africa with 1 medal-winning nation coming next.

The choice of WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING fell on these lifters to be awarded the “2019 IWF World Championships Best Lifter” trophies: DENG Wei (CHN) and TALAKHADZE Lasha (GEO).

DENG set 5 world records in the 64kg category and the Georgian giant presented, if at all possible, something even more magnificent: he set new all-time-best“astronomical” marks with 220kg in snatch, 264kg in clean and jerk and 484kg in total. This issue of WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING is dedicated to the account of competitions at the Pattaya WWC which you will find on the following pages. You can find full results, as usual, on www.iwf.net and in the next issue No.150 we shall revive a few special episodes of this great World Championships.

› 2019 IWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, PATTAYA, THA - WOMEN

WOMEN 45KG – START OFF WITH TURKISH SUCCESS

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n the absence of Thai contenders, Turkey’s European champion, ERDOGAN Saziye captured the lightest category’s world title in total, on the opening day of the World Championships in Pattaya.

The 27-year old competitor first triumphed in snatch (77kg) – true that merely by the tightest margin of one kilo on Cuban MONTERO RAMOS Ludia – before adding a silver-winning 92kg clean and jerk to this result and make 169kg overall.

Reigning Pan-American champion, MONTERO RAMOS (20) won silver overall with 167kg. The bronze medal went to Indonesian SETIAWATI Lisa for her 165kg. The latter was supreme in clean and jerk and could rejoice over the gold medal, mainly because both ERDOGAN and MONTERO missed their relevant attempts at higher weights. In addition to this trio, two girls from Vietnam were able to clinch bronze medals, one each: KHONG My Phuong (in snatch, 74kg), VUONG Thi Huyen (in clean and jerk, 91kg).

ERDOGAN Saziye, TUR

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SETIAWATI Lisa, INA

Medal winners in 45kg

MONTERO RAMOS Ludia, CUB

1 ERDOGAN SAZIYE

23.02.1992 TUR 45.00

77

92 169

2 MONTERO RAMOS LUDIA M. 17.04.1999 CUB 44.95

76

91 167

3 SETIAWATI LISA

04.09.1989 INA 44.35

70

95 165

4 VUONG THI HUYEN

22.06.1992

VIE 44.85

73

91 164

5 KHONG MY PHUONG

05.07.1999

VIE 44.55

74

87 161

6 QUINTANA M. R. COROMOTO 18.03.2000 VEN 44.75

70

87 157

7 DIAZ MARY FLOR

04.05.1999

PHI 44.90

70

86 156

8 RANDAFIARISON ROSINA

29.12.1999 MAD 43.80

70

85 155

9 PANOVA NADEZHDA

08.04.1990 RUS 44.90

67

86 153

12.02.2000 TUR 44.95

68

80 148

10 DOGAN AYSE

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 7

› 2019 IWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, PATTAYA, THA - WOMEN

49KG – JIANG WINS DOMESTIC RACE OVER HOU

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he “déjà vu” feeling came double: as if we had seen the replay of the 2018 Ashgabat WWC – but without the protagonists from Thailand – or we had been witnessing the Chinese national championships. Namely, in 49kg, the two Chinese competitors fought their private duel and the rest of the field was confined to the onlooker’s role.

In the first part, 22-year old HOU Zhihui, holder of the snatch world record with 95kg, won with a best of 94kg (missing a new record of 97kg) ahead of her compatriot 21-year old JIANG Huihua, who scored the same result.

However, the clean and jerk brought a change: last year’s 3rd JIANG missed 117kg, yet asked for 118kg for her third attempt and could fix it overhead. Before that happened,

JIANG Huihua, CHN

HOU Zhihui, CHN

1 JIANG HUIHUA

22.01.1998 CHN 48.95

94 118 212

2 HOU ZHIHUI

18.03.1997 CHN 48.85

94 117 211

3 RI SONG GUM

17.10.1997 PRK 48.75

89 115 204

4 MIRABAI CHANU SAIKHOM

08.08.1994 IND 49.00

87 114 201

5 SEGURA SEGURA ANA IRIS

26.07.1991 COL 49.00

83 105 188

6 SOBOL KRISTINA IVANOVNA

30.11.1991 RUS 49.00

88

99 187

7 PIRON CANDELARIO B. ELIZABETH 27.02.1995 DOM 48.60

86 101 187

8 KING MORGHAN WHITNEY

08.10.1985 USA 48.90

82 101 183

9 AISAH WINDY CANTIKA

11.06.2002 INA 48.25

82 100 182

12.01.1988 FRA 48.85

79 101 180

10 MICHEL ANAIS

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H AISAH Windy Cantika, INA

RI Song Gum, PRK

OU also failed at 116kg but was successful with 117kg – this being just enough to clinch the silver medals in both the clean and jerk and the total. Moreover, last year’s runnerup HOU also lost her record-holder rank, because JIANG, with the title-winning 212kg total quickly eliminated HOU’s new 211kg world record established a few minutes earlier. The challenge for the bronze ended with RI Song Gum (PRK) earning the honour to step on the podium – all three times – next to the two Chinese girls. We should also remember 17-year old AISAH Windy Cantika (INA) who set youth world records in snatch, clean and jerk and in total.

MIRABAI Chanu, IND

› 2019 IWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, PATTAYA, THA - WOMEN

55KG – ANOTHER CHINESE DOUBLE

LIAO Qiuyun, CHN

A

n encore of the day before, in the 55kg again two Chinese ladies swept in all the gold medals and silver medals; and even the scenario was similar: snatch winner to take silver in clean and jerk; C&J winner taking the gold in total. Like in 2018, the great Asian country had double forces in this category but only one lifter was the same, ZHANG Wanqiong, while they were able to replace LI Yajun with someone new, LIAO Qiuyun. In the first act, ZHANG Wanqiong succeeded with 99kg and thus overtook the other Chinese, Asian champion LIAO Qiuyun by the minimum 1kg. The latter, however, felt really at ease in the clean and jerk, where she arrived in Pattaya as the world record holder with 128kg, and duly developed an impressive advantage of 6 kilograms (129 on 123kg). The 129kg hit a new record, better to say two new records: in clean and jerk and in total, 227kg. Well-deserved gold medals for LIAO. Happier than both Chinese could only be Philippine’s DIAZ Hidilyn, Rio Olympic silver medallist, who collected two bronze medals. We saw and shall remember 19year old SINISTERRA TORRES Yenny (COL), fifth overall, who clean and jerked new junior world record of 116kg.

The third place overall was captured by Uzbekistan’s NABIEVA Muattar.

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ZHANG Wanqiong, CHN

1 LIAO QIUYUN

13.07.1995 CHN 54.80

98 129 227

2 ZHANG WANQIONG

21.01.1994 CHN 54.80

99 123 222

3 DIAZ HIDILYN

20.02.1991

PHI 54.90

93 121 214

4 CHINSHANLO ZULFIYA

25.07.1993 KAZ 54.95

93 120 213

5 SINISTERRA TORRES YENNY

04.05.2000 COL 55.00

94 116 210

6 NABIEVA MUATTAR

02.06.1996 UZB 54.90

96 113 209

7 LOPEZ FERRER ANA GABRIELA

22.09.1994 MEX 55.00

94 108 202

8 LEBLANC-BAZINET RACHEL

10.10.1988 CAN 54.85

91 110 201

9 DELACRUZ JOURDAN ELIZABETH

20.05.1998 USA 53.65

88 112 200

14.03.1994 RUS 54.85

91 109 200

10 ERSHOVA SVETLANA

NABIEVA Muattar

SINISTERRA TORRES Yenny, COL

DIAZ Hidilyn, PHI

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 11

› 2019 IWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, PATTAYA, THA - WOMEN

59KG – RECORD ON RECORD: KUO IS INVINCIBLE

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he 59kg temporarily put hold on the monotonous Chinese triumphal march.

Although all the medals remained in Asia, the Chinese contender collected “only” the bronzes, while the shinier medals were won

by TPE and PRK athletes. The snatch gold went to North-Korea, the other two to Chinese Taipei; and the three silver medals were shared vice versa. To add the names to the statistics: Olympic bronze medal winner KUO Hsing-Chun successfully defended her titles (2017 and 2018) in Pattaya.

KUO Hsing-Chun, TPE

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1 KUO HSING-CHUN

26.11.1993 TPE 58.55 106 140 246

2 CHOE HYO SIM

05.12.1993 PRK 58.95 107 138 245

3 CHEN GUIMING

03.01.1994 CHN 58.85 101 132 233

4 SILGADO ATENCIO ROSIVE ANDREA

30.06.1995 COL 59.00

96 126 222

5 ANDOH MIKIKO

30.09.1992 JPN 58.80

96 126 222

6 SMITH ZOE

26.04.1994 GBR 58.90

93 123 216

7 FIGUEROA ROLDAN Y. MARIANA

09.01.1993 VEN 58.65

93 122 215

8 KOHA REBEKA

19.05.1998 LAT 58.75

97 118 215

26.04.1996

VIE 58.95

96 118 214

26.10.1997 MEX 58.50

95 118 213

9 HOANG THI DUYEN 10 GOMEZ VALDIVIA JANETH

CHEN Guiming, CHN

CHOE Hyo Sim, PRK

ANDOH Mikiko, JPN

I

n snatch, she lost to CHOE Hyo Sim (PRK), having improved KUO’s world record to 107kg, while the latter remained at 106kg. But that episode did not disturb her, as she could prove in clean and jerk that she was still the best in this category. CHOE did her best rewriting the world records to 138kg and 245kg, respectively.

However, KUO Hsing-Chun replicated and took back both records with 140kg and 246kg, winning both gold medals. The bronze medals were won by Chinese CHEN Guiming, last year’s silver medallist and former C&J world record holder.

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 13

› 2019 IWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, PATTAYA, THA - WOMEN

64KG – DENG WEI: 3 GOLD MEDALS, 5 WORLD RECORDS

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uperstar DENG Wei made sure the Chinese series of victories should continue.

She dominated the 64kg so that she won each of the three gold medals setting world records, five in all. DENG, aged 26, came to Pattaya vested with no less than 11 world titles, as supreme defending champion from last year, as the holder of all the possible world records in snatch, jerk or total. True to her class, she rose to new record horizons in snatch with three splendid lifts, ending with 116kg, improving her previous mark. No wonder DENG was the Olympic champion in Rio: she did not give it for less in clean and jerk. Already her second attempt hit a new mark: 143kg. The closing lift at 145kg – also good –

rewrote two world records

on the scoreboard: the one

in clean and jerk and the one in total to 261kg. DENG Wei’s ultimate supremacy

is demonstrated by those incredible 10 kilograms with which she outlifted none other than Asian champion and last year’s runner-up RIM Un Sim (PRK) who added three silver medals to her collection. The bronzes in snatch and total went to world and European champion TOMA Loredana-Elena from Romania, and the clean and jerk bronze was captured by PEREZ TIGRERO Mercedes from Colombia. 17-year old Uzbek FAYZULLAEVA Kumushkhon excelled with three youth world records.

One of the 5 world records by DENG Wei making 2: 145kg and 261kg

DENG Wei, CHN

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RIM Un Sim, PRK

PEREZ TIGRERO Mercedes, COL

TOMA Loredana-Elena, ROU

1 DENG WEI

14.02.1993 CHN 63.40 116 145 261

2 RIM UN SIM

05.07.1996 PRK 64.00 114 137 251

3 TOMA LOREDANA-ELENA

10.05.1995 ROU 63.95 112 128 240

4 PEREZ TIGRERO M. ISABEL

07.08.1987 COL 64.00 106 132 238

5 LEPSA IRINA-LACRAMIOARA

06.06.1992 ROU 62.95 109 126 235

6 CHARRON MAUDE G

28.04.1993 CAN 63.85 103 127 230

7 LLAMOSA MOSQUERA NATHALIA

14.06.1997 COL 63.65 102 120 222

8 DAVIES SARAH

19.08.1992 GBR 63.75

9 BORDIGNON GIORGIA

24.05.1987

10 FAYZULLAEVA KUMUSHKHON

98 124 222

ITA 63.85 101 120 221

20.01.2002 UZB 63.85

97 124 221

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 15

› 2019 IWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, PATTAYA, THA - WOMEN

71KG – HALF A DOZEN MEDALS IN USA POSSESSION

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ecently, it has been anything but usual for a champion from the U.S. to be crowned at World Championships, let alone two Americans to share the podium at the same time in one particular category. Alas, it happened in the 71kg at Pattaya! The most recent example for such occurrence we could find thirty years ago, at the World Championships in Manchester.

As it was now in Pattaya: 2019 junior world champion NYE Katherine Elizabeth pocketed all the three gold medals, while fellow-American, former WWC medallist ROGERS Martha Ann enriched her collection with further three medals, of which two silvers and one bronze. 20year old NYE started off with a missed attempt in snatch (106kg), but soon made amends with good 107kg and a junior world record of 112kg. That mark proved to be the best, more than KIM Hyo Sim (PRK) 110kg or ROGERS did on this lift. In clean and jerk NYE only added even more advantage and finished with 136/248kg. ROGERS also improved her position and with a final result of 240kg beat the slightly injured North-Korean by an impressive 10kg gap for the silvers. Great Britain, thanks to GODLEY Emily Victoria clinched a bronze medal in clean and jerk.

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The USA medallists with Ursula PAPANDREA GARZA, USAW President and Pyrros DIMAS, Coach

NYE KATHERINE ELIZABETH, USA “I am really honoured to be

part of the history. This, two Americans standing on the podiums hasn’t happened for ages and I really wanted that Junior World Record for a long time. I’ve been working towards these goals for so long. My last missed lift will haunt me, but I think of it as a lesson, every missed lift is an opportunity to learn from our mistakes.

It was great to stand beside Mattie Rogers on the podium. She was a role model for me ever since I started lifting.

I always looked up to her so instead of rivalry between us, we give each other motivation.”

GODLEY Emily Victoria, GBR

ROGERS MARTHA ANN (MATTIE), USA "I’m happy about how today’s competition turned out and I am happy for Kate! I want to keep improving and stay healthy. I think if I can improve my diet and eat more healthily that can really promote my performance as an athlete.”

1 NYE KATHERINE ELIZABETH

05.01.1999 USA 70.75 112 136 248

2 ROGERS MARTHA ANN

23.08.1995 USA 70.75 106 134 240

3 KIM HYO SIM

29.03.1994 PRK 65.85 110 120 230

4 GODLEY EMILY VICTORIA

22.10.1989 GBR 70.40 100 126 226

5 ANZOROVA ANASTASIIA

22.04.1996 RUS 70.60

99 120 219

6 LAYLOR MAYA CELESTE

04.07.1995 CAN 70.90

94 124 218

7 BYKOVA YEKATERINA

13.11.1997 KAZ 70.85

91 120 211

8 MACROHON KRISTEL

02.09.1996

PHI 70.90

90 120 210

9 TRETIACOVA ECATERINA

22.12.1996 MDA 70.50

94 114 208

09.05.1998

96 108 204

10 RUBANOVICH NIKOL BELLA

ISR 70.70

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 17

› 2019 IWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, PATTAYA, THA - WOMEN

76KG – FROM RUNNER-UP BACK TO POLE POSITION: RIM

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hile in Ashgabat 2018 the surprise in the 76kg was presented by the unexpected victory of RIM Jong Sim’s Chinese rival, WANG Zhouyu, the NorthKorean Olympic champion now recaptured her due throne - this time beating ZHANG Wangli, last year’s champion one category lower in 71kg.

RIM made sure there was no mistake about the winner as early as in the snatch: after ZHANG Wangli had finished at 118kg, RIM came out and snatched 120, then for a new record 124kg.

ZHANG Wangli, CHN

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1 RIM JONG SIM

05.02.1993 PRK 75.90 124 152 276

2 ZHANG WANGLI

27.05.1996 CHN 73.95 118 153 271

3 DAJOMES B. NEISI PATRICIA

12.05.1998 ECU 75.80 110 135 245

4 FUENTES ZAVALA AREMI

23.05.1993 MEX 76.00 107 138 245

5 DEKHA IRYNA

14.05.1996 UKR 75.95 110 132 242

6 KANG YEOUNHEE

15.10.1992 KOR 75.10 104 131 235

7 STRENIUS PATRICIA CAROLINE

23.11.1989 SWE 74.05 102 129 231

8 VOSTRIKOVA MARIIA

02.11.1993 RUS 72.85 105 125 230

9 NGARLEM KRISTEL 10 KADYROVA GULNABAT

RIM Jong Sim, PRK

20.07.1995 CAN 75.25 100 130 230 14.06.1994 TKM 75.60 101 123 224

Podium in 76kg

In the second part, the Chinese proved to be superior with her 153kg, but RIM had acquired such a big advantage of 6kg in snatch that even a 152kg result was more than enough for the North-Korean to remain on top overall (still by 5 kilos).

The 155kg clean and jerk escaped her this time, but she fulfilled her mission: regaining the pole position in the 76kg.

In her colourful attire and cheerful mood, Ecuador’s DAJOMES BARRERA Neisi Patricia once again captured – not only the hearts of the public but also – the bronze medals in snatch and in total.

There was one more medal winner: FUENTES ZAVALA Aremi from Mexico clinched the C&J bronze.

DAJOMES BARRERA Neisi Patricia, ECU

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 19

› 2019 IWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, PATTAYA, THA - WOMEN

81KG – WORLD’S FAVOURITE LIFTER DEFEATED

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he 9 medals in this category were shared by six ladies. The classification was decided on the smallest margin of one kilo and Olympic, European and defending world champion, as well as Lifter of the Year, Spanish VALENTIN PEREZ Lidia became second.

Merely second – we could add, as the world’s favourite lifter in both 2017 and 2018, voted

SOLIS ARBOLEDA Leidy, COL

Medal winners in 81kg

20 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING

to receive the Jenő Boskovics Award of WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING, was outlifted in Pattaya. VALENTIN Lidia, facing a whole range of challengers, lifted only 3kg under the winner’s score in snatch, but it landed her in 5th place. That winner, to no little surprise, was Group B best SouthKorean LEE Jieun, thanks to her 111kg snatch. Her compatriot KIM Suhyeon registered the same result and took the silver, while Mongolian MUNKHJANTSAN Ankhtsetseg had the bronze with her 110kg. No more excitement for KIM in clean and jerk, because she bombed; LEE’s clean and jerk from the afternoon was not enough to qualify her better than 10th on that lift and 6th in total; so the door opened for others to seize the victory. Among them, SOLIS ARBOLEDA Leidy (COL) made the most impressive finish with her 142kg.

VALENTIN P

PEREZ Lidia, ESP

1 SOLIS ARBOLEDA LEIDY YESSENIA

Merely 9 (!) in snatch, the Colombian was catapulted to the top of the podium with this splendid performance. VALENTIN’s 138kg was good for a third position in clean and jerk and the silver in total, as she remained only 1kg inferior to SOLIS (246-247). Here, the silver medal in C&J was captured by U.S. lifter ARTHUR Jenny for her 139kg, which gave her also the bronze overall. th

17.02.1990 COL 76.85 105 142 247

2 VALENTIN PEREZ LIDIA

10.02.1985 ESP 78.80 108 138 246

3 ARTHUR JENNY LYVETTE

11.12.1993 USA 80.95 106 139 245

4 NAUMAVA DARYA

26.08.1995 BLR 78.45 109 135 244

5 CHIRINOS LEON DAYANA ARACELIS

04.10.1991 VEN 80.70 106 136 242

6 LEE JIEUN

01.06.1997 KOR 78.30 111 127 238

7 RIVAS MOSQUERA VALERIA

23.04.2000 COL 78.75 106 132 238

8 MUNKHJANTSAN ANKHTSETSEG

25.12.1997 MGL 81.00 110 127 237

9 TORRES WONG ANACARMEN 10 HAKOBYAN TATEV

27.11.1995 MEX 77.80 101 133 234 21.03.1996 ARM 80.90 105 121 226

ARTHUR Jenny, USA

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 21

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87KG – JUMPING TWO CATEGORIES AND STILL WINNING: WANG

E

xtraordinary achievement by Chinese WANG Zhouyu in the 87kg class! She won hands down, but that would not call for special recognition alone. Much rather does the fact that the winner of the 87kg twelve months ago competed – and triumphed – as a 76kg lifter! That means she has jumped two classes and won: a fantastic accomplishment by any sportsman or sportswoman.

WANG, 25 years old, gained significant advantage already in snatch with her 120kg result, i.e. five kilos on her only potential rival, KIM Un Ju from PRK, 2018 WWC silver medallist. In clean and jerk, the Chinese further increased that gap by 4kg, lifting 158kg.

Her pocketing all the three gold medals was more than natural. The North-Korean took the silvers and two of the bronze medals (clean and jerk and total) went to SALAZAR ARCE Tamara from Ecuador (same position last year but in 81kg), and the bronze of the snatch was won by PEREZ REVERON Naryury from Venezuela.

22 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING

WANG Zhouyu, CHN

KIM Un Ju, PRK

1 WANG ZHOUYU

13.05.1994 CHN 83.50 120 158 278

2 KIM UN JU

11.11.1989 PRK 86.50 115 154 269

3 SALAZAR ARCE TAMARA YAJAIRA 09.08.1997 ECU 85.15 108 144 252 4 VALDES PARIS MARIA FERNANDA 17.03.1992 5 PEREZ R. NARYURY ALEXANDRA

CHI 86.85 108 143 251

29.09.1992 VEN 86.65 110 140 250

6 ANTONIA FERREIRA JAQUELINE

05.03.1987 BRA 86.50 107 128 235

7 JANG HYEONJU

26.11.1999 KOR 81.30 100 130 230

8 CILCIC ELENA

03.06.1996 MDA 81.20 100 125 225

9 SHIMAMOTO MAMI

24.09.1987 JPN 86.80 100 122 222

10 FISCHER SARAH

09.11.2000 AUT 86.55

97 125 222

PEREZ REVERON Naryury, VEN

SALAZAR ARCE Tamara, ECU

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+87KG – YOUNGEST LI WINS WITH WORLD RECORD

T

hree gold and three bronze medals for China; three silvers to Russia: that was the medal tally after the last women’s category, the +87kg. Although the line-up included superheavy Olympic champion in 2016, MENG Suping (CHN), the Olympic silver medallist, KIM Kuk Hyang (PRK) and the bronze medallist, ROBLES Sarah (USA), the final winner of the race of big ladies was the youngest (19) competitor, LI Wenwen (CHN). She earned this glory breaking world records in clean and jerk and twice in total. Arriving in Pattaya as the snatch world record holder, LI in the first act eventually came close but could not improve her own 147kg mark. In the second portion of the competition, however, she delivered the expected new world records as well.

KASHIRINA Tatiana, RUS

24 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING

LI Wenwen, CHN

MENG Suping, CHN

H

er final scores in C&J and total, 186, 332kg, deprived the defending champion, KASHIRINA Tatiana not only of her title but also of her records. The Russian, revealing an unusually indisposed and nervous state of mind, could not unfold her potential and picked up the silver medals. Nevertheless, at 28 years of age, KASHIRINA has altogether 24 World Championship medals, a neat pack indeed. The three bronzes were collected by the older (30) Chinese athlete: MENG Suping.

1 LI WENWEN

05.03.2000 CHN 147.95 146 186 332

2 KASHIRINA TATIANA

24.01.1991 RUS 108.25 140 178 318

3 MENG SUPING

17.07.1989 CHN 120.65 137 174 311

4 KIM KUK HYANG

20.04.1993 PRK 100.80 130 173 303

5 LYSENKO ANASTASIIA

02.12.1995 UKR 102.85 129 157 286

6 HUBBARD LAUREL

09.02.1978 NZL 138.15 131 154 285

7 ROBLES SARAH ELIZABETH

01.08.1988 USA 145.40 125 160 285

8 SON YOUNGHEE

24.04.1993 KOR 114.70 121 155 276

9 CAMPBELL EMILY JADE

06.05.1994 GBR 120.00 114 153 267

10 SALADIN T. VERONICA ESTELA 21.05.1992 DOM 128.65 120 145 265

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 25

Fellow competitors helping injured KASHIRINA to the podium

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WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 27

OM Jun Chol, PRK

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MEN 55KG – OM WINS FIFTH GOLD

A

s he was standing on the stage on the opening day, 18th September 2019, of the World Championships, OM Jun Chol already had a neat collection of laurels from the world events of previous years. With the sole exception of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio (where he won silver), the North-Korean prodigy had rarely ever met his match.

Well, the same was to happen in Pattaya, where OM once again emerged victorious. Following his London Olympic gold medal, OM now took home his fifth world champion title in total. He left no doubt about the final outcome as early as in the snatch: in three excellent lifts he gained an 8kg advantage on his challengers. At 27 years of age, the defending champion increased this gap further in clean and jerk. Although missing his first go at the world record with 163kg, he did succeed with the third attempt, at the increased weight of 166kg, pinning two world records at one blow, including one of 294kg in total. As superb as always, OM came out to snatch an opening 121kg after the rest of the field had returned to their warm-up for the next act. The silver medal went to Vietnamese NGUYEN Tran Anh Tuan for his 120kg and the bronze was taken for the same result by SON Igor (KAZ). The Vietnamese dropped back in clean and jerk and SON did not excel either, the latter still managed to capture the silver in total for his 266kg. In third place we saw the Asian champion and clean and jerk bronze medallist (147kg) AL SALEEM Mansour from Saudi Arabia.

1 OM YUN CHOL

18.11.1991 PRK 54.95 128 166 294

2 SON IGOR

16.11.1998 KAZ 55.00 120 146 266

3 AL SALEEM MANSOUR A. M

16.03.1988 KSA 55.00 118 147 265

4 NGUYEN TRAN ANH TUAN

22.02.1998

VIE 54.80 120 143 263

5 CHONTEY ARLI

01.07.1992 KAZ 54.95 118 145 263

6 CENIZA JOHN FABUAR

07.02.1998

PHI 54.95 117 145 262 IRI 55.00 111 149 260

7 GHASHGHAEI HAFEZ

16.03.1995

8 WIJOYO SURAHMAT BIN SUWOTO

11.05.1988 INA 55.00 111 139 250

9 MASSIDDA SERGIO

26.01.2002

ITA 55.00 109 135 244

10 YODAGE DILANKA ISURU KUMARA 21.04.1996

SRI 54.95 108 134 242

Medallists in 55kg

28 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING

NGUYEN Tran Anh Tuan, VIE

SON Igor, KAZ

AL SALEEM Mansour, KSA

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 29

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61KG – LI STRIKES BACK TO IRAWAN

A

“déja vu” feeling prevailed in 61kg, whereby last year’s gold and silver medal winners were fighting again for the honours. However, while last year IRAWAN Eko Yuli (INA) emerged triumphant, this time Ashgabat runner-up LI Fabin (CHN) was best. LI opened impressively: setting a snatch world record of 145kg and stripping the Indonesian defending champion of his previous title. IRAWAN lifted five kilos less than the Chinese. It became even more difficult for IRAWAN to keep pace with LI in clean and jerk: he got stuck at 166kg, while the Chinese (26) went on with flying colours from 168 to 173kg, thinly under the Indonesian’s world record, and improving his total world record to a new mark, from 317kg to 318kg. To no little surprise, the other Chinese favourite of the category predicted even as the final winner, QIN Fulin bombed in snatch with three missed attempts. A bronze medal in clean and jerk (171kg) could hardly mean a true consolation. In total, the third position on the podium was taken by last year’s clean and jerk bronze medallist, MOSQUERA VALENCIA Francisco (COL) and 302kg, adding this bronze to a silver won in clean and jerk (172kg).

IRAWAN Eko Yuli, INA

30 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING

MOSQUERA VALENCIA Francisco A., COL

QIN Fulin, CHN

L

LI FABIN, CHN “I fulfilled my expectations, but I feel like my last attempt at the Clean and Jerk wasn’t good enough. I should have tried harder, because I know I can do that weight. The most important thing for an athlete is to always fight harder and push for the best result. I will go to Tokyo and fight for a Gold Medal!”

1 LI FABIN

15.01.1993 CHN 60.80 145 173 318

2 IRAWAN EKO YULI

24.07.1989 INA 60.95 140 166 306

3 MOSQUERA VALENCIA F. ANTONIO

01.04.1992 COL 61.00 130 172 302

4 THACH KIM TUAN

15.01.1994

5 SERNA MENDOZA JHON JAIRO

03.12.1994 COL 60.80 130 165 295

VIE 60.80 133 163 296

6 ITOKAZU YOICHI

24.05.1991 JPN 60.95 135 158 293

7 MISHVELIDZE SHOTA

18.10.1994 GEO 61.00 135 152 287

8 MUHAMAD AZNIL BIN BIDIN

04.06.1994 MAS 61.00 125 160 285

9 KAO CHAN-HUNG

03.10.1993 TPE 60.75 125 158 283

10 MAU JON LUKE

02.10.1998 GER 60.90 122 158 280

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 31

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67KG – CHEN DEFENDS TITLE – FIVE MEDALS TRAVEL TO CHINA

CHEN Lijun, CHN

A

s defending champion, he arrived in Thailand as the incontestable favourite of the 67kg category: CHEN Lijun, however, found himself on a far bumpier road than expected before finally earning the gold medal for his total performance. This road led through bronze in snatch and silver in clean and jerk. The evening show had its preliminaries: FENG Lyudong, second at the recent Asia Championships, had lifted in Group B, yet his rank remained “1” throughout the entire snatch competition! FENG’s 153kg proved to be the best in the whole category, including Group A and including CHEN, who reached 150kg. ISMAYILOV Daniyar of Turkey also snatched 150kg but earlier than the Chinese, so he took the silver.

In clean and jerk, despite breaking his own world record and lifting 187kg, CHEN once again had to see someone else in the top position: PAK Jong Ju (PRK) succeeded with a still better world record, 188kg in his last attempt. For the North-Korean, as he was only 9th (!) in snatch, that result meant gold in clean and jerk and bronze in total.

FENG took the silver and CHEN Lijun captured the most important medal of all: the gold in total (337kg). We should give special credit to 20-year old ERGASHEV Adkhamjon (UZB), collecting two fourth positions and a bronze medal in clean and jerk. On the way to this success, the young Uzbek set nothing less than 7 (!) junior world records.

1 CHEN LIJUN

08.02.1993 CHN 66.95 150 187 337

2 FENG LYUDONG

23.10.1991 CHN 66.80 153 180 333

3 PAK JONG JU

14.03.1997 PRK 66.95 142 188 330

4 ERGASHEV ADKHAMJON

12.03.1999 UZB 66.80 146 182 328

5 MOSQUERA LOZANO LUIS JAVIER

27.03.1995 COL 66.55 145 175 320

6 KONNAI MITSUNORI

14.03.1996 JPN 67.00 143 174 317

7 ISMAYILOV DANIYAR

03.02.1992 TUR 66.80 150 166 316

8 LAPTSEU HENADZ

15.12.1998 BLR 66.65 142 171 313

9 KINGUE MATAM B. LEDOUX

20.05.1990 FRA 67.00 138 175 313

10 FIGUEROA M. OSCAR ALBEIRO

ERGASHEV Adkhamjon, UZB

32 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING

27.04.1983 COL 66.55 137 176 313

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PAK Jong Ju, PRK happy about his world record, 188kg

FENG Lyudong, CHN won gold from Group B

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 33

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73KG – SHI ZHIYONG HUMBLES THE FIELD

T

he 73kg men saw one of the most unambiguous and overwhelming victories at the Pattaya WWC. 2018 world champion SHI Zhiyong (CHN) swept in the three gold medals with enviable confidence and at a large margin. The defending champion – by the way 2016 Rio Olympic champion – made it clear to everybody at the very beginning in snatch that none other than himself can be the winner at this place (and, in fact, anywhere).

Only after everyone else in the group had finished their exercise (157kg being the most) did this magnificent champion appear to do his job finishing with a 166kg barbell, just two kilos short of his own world record. Now 26 years of age, SHI went on irresistibly in clean and jerk, flashing his own special style of power squat-jerk. Starting at 190kg, he immediately jumped to 197kg for a new world record. In fact, two new world records at one blow: 197kg in clean and jerk and 363kg in total. No-one blamed him for giving up the third clean and jerk attempt: SHI’s advantage on runner-up O Kang Chol (PRK) was already 16kg. In bronze medallist position we had ANDREEV Bozhidar Dimitrov from Bulgaria. USA teenage star, 4-times junior world champion and still just 19 years old CUMMINGS JR Clarence still has some growing-up to do to adjust to the seniors field: this time he registered an unsuccessful world record attempt and a 9th position overall.

SHI Zhiyong, CHN

34 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING

O Kang Chol, PRK

1 SHI ZHIYONG

10.10.1993 CHN 72.90 166 197 363

2 O KANG CHOL

16.09.1993 PRK 72.85 154 193 347

3 ANDREEV BOZHIDAR DIMITROV

17.01.1997 BUL 73.00 157 189 346

4 LIKHARAD VADZIM

06.09.1993 BLR 72.70 154 184 338

5 CALJA BRIKEN

19.02.1990 ALB 72.90 156 181 337

6 MAYORA PERNIA JULIO RUBEN

02.09.1996 VEN 72.15 152 185 337

7 BAK JOOHYO

29.06.1997 KOR 72.40 151 186 337

8 WON JEONGSIK

09.12.1990 KOR 72.80 153 183 336

9 CUMMINGS JR CLARENCE 10 YUAN CHENGFEI

06.06.2000 USA 72.75 150 183 333 14.07.1995 CHN 72.95 146 187 333

SHI Zhiyong: “There is more to come!”

ANDREEV Bozhidar, BUL

CALJA BRIKEN, ALB

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 35

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81KG – GENIUS LYU INVINCIBLE AT 35

A

t world championships, where superstars abound, it is difficult to set a ranking merely based on performance. However, taking other factors into consideration, there is no doubt that the competition in terms of popularity and charm was swept by LYU Xiaojun. Offering a highly becoming and touchy sight with his family – as shown on the cover of this issue of WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING - this Chinese megastar has produced a long list of evidence of his stupefying potential and skills; on this latter occasion proving once more that even at the age of 35 years he is not to be written down. On the Pattaya stage LYU triumphed in 81kg in a way recalling the most engaging moments of his impressive career. Not that he was saved any contenders! Let us just look at his compatriot, young (21) LI Dayin, who was eyeing LYU’s crown jealously and eagerly. In snatch, LI finished in second place with 171kg, the same as LYU’s and he had every hope to beat the great champion in clean and jerk, as the latter was struggling a bit with a minor waist injury.

LYU went from 191kg to 205kg, which LI topped with 206kg. Little did the challenger believe, though, that the Olympic and multiple world champion would reply with a new world record of 207kg. In this process, the total world record kept shifting between both athletes: first LYU had 376kg, LI took it back with 377kg, finally LYU, in his third attempt, put an end to this “weighty dialogue” pinning the world record of 378kg that stayed.

This weightlifting genius to date has 12 world champion titles and altogether 19 WWC medals in his collection.

RODALLEGAS CARVAJAL Brayan Santiago, COL

36 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING

Podium in 81kg

LYU XIAOJUN, CHN “During the first Snatch attempt, I was in a lot of hurry and I didn’t speculate my attempts correctly. I think this is why I got my back injured.

In the Clean and Jerk, I was going to start at 200kg, but because I was injured, my coach recommended to drop down to 191kg to secure a medal. I practised lifting for more than 20 years and I have a huge passion for the sport and cherish each individual competition, especially before the Olympic Games. After my first Clean and Jerk attempt I was almost in tears, but I kept pushing for the best result because I knew I can still do it!”

LI Dayin, CHN

1 LYU XIAOJUN

27.07.1984 CHN 80.75 171 207 378

2 LI DAYIN

12.02.1998 CHN 80.90 171 206 377

3 RODALLEGAS C. BRAYAN SANTIAGO

15.11.1997 COL 80.85 167 196 363

4 REJEPOV REJEPBAY

23.02.1992 TKM 80.70 164 199 363

5 BEYTULA YUNDER NEDIM

09.01.1992 BUL 80.65 157 201 358

6 PIZZOLATO ANTONINO

20.08.1996

7 MATA PEREZ ANDRES EDUARDO

11.11.1992 ESP 80.85 162 194 356

8 BONNAT MICHEL ZACARIAS

27.02.1996 DOM 81.00 160 195 355

9 MAURUS HARRISON JAMES 10 TOSHTEMIROV MUKHAMMADKODIR

ITA 80.90 163 195 358

26.02.2000 USA 80.76 152 198 350 17.09.2001 UZB 79.85 159 189 348

Supportive audience includes fellow champions

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 37

MIRI Ali, IRI

38 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING Podium with 6 medal winners

MKRTCHYAN Hakob, ARM

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89KG – NINE MEDALS AROUND SIX NECKS

V

ery similarly to last year’s world championships when there were seven medallists on the podium, in the 89kg there was again a large range of medal winners on the Pattaya stage: this time six men shared the available 9 medals.

That might hint at the same time at balanced power-relations or instability in quality and performance. In any case, the category does not have a superstar currently. In snatch, last year’s third-placed DAVITADZE Revaz (GEO) proved to be the best with 17kg, preceding a Belorus and a Venezuelan rival, namely BERSANAU Aliaksandr (169kg) and 19-year old junior world champion VALLENILLA SANCHEZ Keydomar (also 169kg), respectively. In clean and jerk three totally new names emerged: Group B winner, 18-year old Japanese YAMAMOTO Toshiki became the most sought-after person in Pattaya as it grew more and more likely that no-one else even in Group A would be able to top his 208kg result achieved earlier in the day. YAMAMOTO’s personal best was thus worth the gold medal. And in total he finished in fifth place with 368kg and a 13th (!) rank in snatch. Behind the Japanese, the next best finisher (with the same 208kg) was Armenian MKRTCHYAN Hakob, European champion in 2019, someone who always gives a hard time to announcers and journalists alike thanks to the complicated spelling of his name… The third name registered as bronze medallist belongs to MIRI Ali from Iran. MKRTCHYAN was eventually catapulted to eminence in total (375kg) by his good result in clean and jerk; MIRI finished in second place and DAVITADZE in third.

1 MKRTCHYAN HAKOB

08.03.1997 ARM 88.75 167 208 375

2 MIRI ALI

01.08.1995

3 DAVITADZE REVAZ

16.10.1998 GEO 88.50 172 199 371

IRI 88.95 167 207 374

4 BERSANAU ALIAKSANDR

01.09.1992 BLR 89.00 169 201 370

5 YAMAMOTO TOSHIKI

08.09.1991 JPN 88.95 160 208 368

6 YU DONGJU

19.08.1993 KOR 88.50 162 205 367

7 SAEZ VERA OLFIDES

24.09.1994 CUB 87.80 165 199 364

8 VALLENILLA S. KEYDOMAR GIOVANNI 08.10.1999 VEN 88.45 169 195 364 9 ZAREI MOHAMMAD 10 ULANOV DENIS

10.01.1991

IRI 88.55 165 196 361

28.10.1993 KAZ 83.45 163 195 358

DAVITADZE Revaz, GEO WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 39

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PLIESNOI Anton, GEO

96KG – PLIESNOI WINS MEDALS INSTEAD OF HOT SHOTS

I

t’s not that last year WWC’s eighth PLIESNOI Anton (GEO) did not deserve those two medals in the 96kg; he did indeed. Still, it should be said that very few people would have expected him to finish in the top three. For the mere reason that the line-up included several hot shots, among those Olympic and 2018 WWC silver medallist TIAN Tao of China, Colombian RIVAS MOSQUERA Jhonatan, or last year’s junior world champion Qatari ELBAKH Fares Ibrahim, but most of all the absolute favourite of the category, Olympic and world champion Iranian ROSTAMI Kianoush. The latter unexpectedly bombed in snatch amidst rather controversial circumstances and displaying a disappointingly unsportsmanlike behaviour, and did not appear for the clean and jerk. TIAN performed 180kg but only after missing 175kg twice. Meanwhile, PLIESNOI grabbed the opportunity and, progressing nicely, took the snatch gold with his 181kg. Later adding 213kg in clean and jerk (4th), this formerly Ukrainian now Georgian weightlifter earned bronze in total.

Making good the flop in snatch with superior lifting in clean and jerk, Chinese TIAN had 230kg, just slightly less than his own world record, and collected two gold medals, including the one in total.

ELBAKH – a cheerful and funny guy anyway – walked away happily with the precious silver medal in total, bringing the total number of medallists to five in this category.

TIAN Tao, CHN

40 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING

Medallists in 96kg

RIVAS MOSQUERA Jhonatan, COL

ELBAKH FARES IBRAHIM, QAT “I expected more from today, but I am still happy, I did the best I could. I am now concentrating on the Olympic Qualifications. My dream is to win the Olympics one day, if it doesn’t happen in Tokyo, I will work harder to nail the next one.”

1 TIAN TAO

08.04.1994 CHN 95.75 180 230 410

2 ELBAKH FARES IBRAHIM E. H.

04.06.1998 QAT 95.95 178 224 402

3 PLIESNOI ANTON

17.09.1996 GEO 96.00 181 213 394

4 RIVAS MOSQUERA JHONATAN

11.07.1998 COL 95.35 179 212 391

5 MOUSAVIJARAHI SEYEDAYOOB

21.04.1995

IRI 96.00 168 214 382

6 SANTAVY BOADY ROBERT

22.05.1997 CAN 94.00 170 210 380

7 KHUGAEV KHETAG

21.10.1997 RUS 95.95 170 206 376

8 ARIAS MOSQUERA JEYSON ALONSO

09.09.1993 VEN 95.75 164 205 369

9 JANG YEONHAK

14.02.1997 KOR 95.00 164 203 367

10 RASULBEKOV BEKDOOLOT

12.09.1996 KGZ 95.90 170 197 367

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 41

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102KG – TSIKHANTSOU, THE ALCHEMIST, TURNS SILVER INTO GOLD!

B

ig surprise by South-Korean JIN Yunseong in snatch: his life’s best of 181kg was worth the gold medal on this lift. However, the overall world champion title was captured by TSIKHANTSOU Yauheni of Belarus, although it did not happen automatically. To recall the course of events: JIN had nothing better than a 9th position at the 2017 WWC, but in Pattaya he got wings and scored the highest result in the first movement (181kg). Even TSIKHANTSOU could not do more than 180kg, good for silver. This pattern repeated in clean and jerk – but with another gold medallist. DEHDAR Reza (IRI) was capable of 1 kg more than the Belorussian.

Ultimately, however, TSIKHANTSOU’s 181 and 219 added up to a total of 398kg, highest in this competition, so this “alchemist” was able to turn silver into gold… JIN could rejoice over another medal, silver in total, and the Iranian settled for the bronze. GASPARYAN Samvel (ARM) in snatch and CHUMAK Dmytro (UKR) were also called to the podium during the medal ceremony of the individual lifts.

TSIKHANTSOU Yauheni, BLR

42 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING

GASPARYAN Samvel, ARM

JIN Yunseong, KOR

DEHDAR Reza, IRI

CHUMAK Dmytro, UKR

1 TSIKHANTSOU YAUHENI

04.11.1998 BLR 100.00 180 218 398

2 JIN YUNSEONG

11.10.1995 KOR 101.90 181 216 397

3 DEHDAR REZA

02.07.1995

IRI

97.65 175 219 394

4 CHUMAK DMYTRO

11.07.1990 UKR 101.40 176 217 393

5 GASPARYAN SAMVEL

24.11.1997 ARM 101.70 178 212 390

6 HAN JUNGHOON

28.08.1990 KOR

7 BEIRALVAND REZA

01.04.1997

IRI

97.95 164 214 378 101.00 170 206 376

8 KIBANOV ALEKSANDR

10.06.1996 RUS 101.30 167 209 376

9 ARLIONAK ANDREI

17.01.1999 BLR 101.90 175 200 375

10 CHKHEIDZE IRAKLI

05.01.1999 GEO 101.70 163 204 367

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 43

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109KG – WORLD RECORDS THRIVE IN SNATCH

S

ilver medallist of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, multiple European champion and defending world champion Armenian MARTIROSYAN Simon’s triumph in this category was anything but surprising. This great champion left the icing on the cake for the finish, but the entire competition was rich in splendid performances and world records – thanks not only to the Armenian giant. Reigning Asian champion and last year’s WWC second Chinese YANG Zhe opened the tap of world records with 197kg in snatch. His mark was soon overridden by ARAMNAU Andrei from Belarus. This superstar, who had been world champion already in 2007 and Olympic champion in 2008, improved the mark to 198kg. His record, however, also proved to be short-lived, because MARTIROSYAN, in his final snatch fixed 199kg and won the gold, too. The field slightly loosened up in the clean and jerk: MARTIROSYAN waited until the rest had finished their attempts – the best DJURAEV Akbar (UZB) at 229kg – and came out for a ridiculously easy 230kg opening lift. With that, he collected two gold medals: in C&J and in total (429kg). Having lost motivation, the Armenian attempted 241kg and missed, but winning was most important and he already had the three golds in his pocket.

On his right on the podium long-wearing ARAMNAU Andrei occupied the silver medallist’s step, while Chinese YANG Zhe finished in third place. 19-year old DJURAEV also deserves praise for having set five junior world records.

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1 MARTIROSYAN SIMON

17.02.1997 ARM 108.95 199 230 429

2 ARAMNAU ANDREI

17.04.1988 BLR 108.85 198 228 426

3 YANG ZHE

14.07.1991 CHN 108.95 197 223 420

4 DJURAEV AKBAR

08.10.1999 UZB 108.60 188 229 417

5 BOCHKOV RODION

27.09.1993 RUS 108.90 189 225 414

6 NANIEV TIMUR

20.09.1994 RUS 109.00 189 220 409

7 HASHEMI ALI

01.11.1991

8 MICHALSKI ARKADIUSZ

07.01.1990 POL 108.95 173 221 394

9 PLESNIEKS ARTURS

21.01.1992 LAT 108.65 173 221 394

10 MOCHIDA RYUNOSUKE

18.06.1993 JPN 108.85 174 219 393

ARAMNAU Andrei, BLR

IRI

107.95 177 218 395

MARTIROSYAN Simon, ARM

DJURAEV Akbar, UZB supported by MAKHMUDOV Shakhrillo

YANG Zhe, CHN

MARTIROSYAN Simon nailing 199kg for a world record

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 45

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+109KG – TALAKHADZE’S ASTOUNDING RECORDS

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he weights with which TALAKHADZE Lasha from Georgia swept the field clean and defended his title on the closing day of the World Championships seemed like an invocation of the distant future. The Olympic, world and European champion offered an astounding performance breaking all of his own world records – absolute records in weightlifting – and further stretching the limits of human potential. Voted with good reason Lifter of the Year in both 2017 and 2018, the Georgian “gentle giant” erased his own snatch record of 218kg so that he warmed up on 208kg; toyed with 215kg and snatched the 220kg as if it had been an empty bar. The same 3-act show entertained the audience towards the end of the clean and jerk: secure at 247kg, continue at 255kg and improve your own previous (260kg) world record to the incredible 264kg. Phenomenal! In total, Lasha modified the 478kg record to 484kg, another dream mark. No question about him becoming the Best Lifter of the Pattaya World Championships.

In his shadow, the silver medals were pocketed by Armenia’s MINASYAN Gor, while the bronzes were distributed among BIDANI Walid from Algeria (snatch) and the other Armenian, ALEKSANYAN Ruben.

MINASYAN Gor, ARM

ALEKSANYAN Ruben, ARM BIDANI Walid, ALG

46 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING

TALAKHADZE Lasha, GEO, snatch 220kg

TALAKHADZE: clean and jerk 264kg

1 TALAKHADZE LASHA

02.10.1993 GEO 168.65 220 264 484

2 MINASYAN GOR

25.10.1994 ARM 150.80 212 248 460

3 ALEKSANYAN RUBEN

14.03.1990 ARM 153.85 192 245 437

4 ZIAZIULIN EDUARD

29.10.1998 BLR 134.55 198 234 432

5 BIDANI WALID

11.06.1994 ALG 142.40 200 231 431

6 ASAAD MAN

20.11.1993 SYR 144.60 189 241 430

7 CHEN SHIH-CHIEH

27.11.1989 TPE 156.30 190 235 425

8 SARAIVA REIS FERNANDO

10.03.1990 BRA 153.30 192 232 424

9 TOYCHYYEV HOJAMUHAMMET

16.01.1992 TKM 150.90 180 242 422

10 DAVOUDI ALI

22.03.1999

IRI

169.10 190 230 420

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING / 47

48 / WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING

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