Three events, three gold medals. China kept its perfect record in Tokyo Olympic weightlifting Sunday (local time), but only after plenty of drama.
It was gold or nothing when Chen Lijun stepped onto the stage for his second lift in the clean and jerk. He had two shots at lifting 187 kilograms, one kilogram short of the world record, to beat Colombia’s Luis Javier Mosquera. Fail and he was off the podium in the 67-kilogram category.
Chen made the lift look easy, sparking loud celebrations as team officials in the hall waved flags. It came five years after cramps ended his Olympic medal hopes in Rio de Janeiro.
Chen’s gold was China’s second win of the day. Li Fabin won the 61kg class after pulling off a spectacular “flamingo” lift on one leg as he tried to balance earlier in the competition.
All eight Chinese weightlifters in Tokyo are gold medal contenders. Conditions are favourable for a historic sweep. Traditional rival North Korea is skipping the Tokyo Olympics entirely, citing the coronavirus pandemic. Many other leading nations are fielding smaller squads because of past doping.
No country can enter more than eight of the 14 competitions, which meant tough decisions for China. Some world record holders were even left at home, testifying to the depth of talent.
Mosquera was delighted with the silver medal for Colombia, lifting a total 331kg to Chen’s 332. There was controversy when his crucial clean and jerk lift was ruled invalid after he dropped the bar before the siren which signifies the referees are satisfied. It was overturned on appeal.
Mosquera had been a medalist in 2016 but never stood on the podium because he was upgraded when another lifter was disqualified for doping. When he got the medal, he touched it to his forehead. Mirko Zanni of Italy lifted 322kg for the bronze medal.
Pakistan weightlifter Talha Talib was second after the snatch as he sought to end his country’s 29-year wait for a medal in any Olympic sport. He failed his first clean and jerk lift and collapsed on stage soon after. After medical staff rushed to his aid, he returned to lift twice more and placed fifth.
