AFP
Rio de Janeiro, August 8: Chinese weightlifter Long Qingquan broke a 16-year-old world record and North Korean Om Yun-Chol’s heart Sunday, taking a second career Olympic gold in the men’s 56kg-category in Rio.
Long lifted a combined total of 307kg to break a record dating back to the 2000 Sydney Games and end Om’s four-year dominance of the men’s lightest weight category. Long’s combined total weight was two kgs better than Halil Mutlu of Turkey’s record of 305 kg set Down Under.
“It’s been my dream to break this record since 2008. It’s really hard, all the days and years I’ve spent thinking about it but I’ve done it and I’m so happy,” said Long after the magical moment on the podium.
The 25-year-old, who won gold in Beijing eight years ago, dramatically set a new Olympic record of 170 kg with his last attempt in the clean & jerk, pipping defending champion Om into second place.
The Chinese star earlier raised 137 kg above his head in the snatch as he and Om went toe-to-toe in a fierce battle that wowed the 6,000-capacity crowd at the Riocentro Pavilion 2.
Om recorded scores of 134kg in the snatch and 169kg in the clean & jerk to finish on a total of 303 kg, 14kg ahead of bronze medallist Sinphet Kruaithong of Thailand.
Om, who stands at only 1.5 metres (4 feet 11 inches), has won three straight World Championships since taking London by storm four years ago. “I’m disappointed and there’s nothing more I can really say about it,” a dejected Om told reporters when asked about the end of his long reign at the top.
“I just want to offer my congratulations to my Chinese colleague. But I’ll be back,” the 24-year-old added.
