China keeps perfect lifting record
Print Edition
Three events, three gold medals. China kept its perfect record in Tokyo Olympic weightlifting yesterday.
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 — 1kg short of the world record — to beat Colombia’s Luis Javier Mosquera. Fail and he was off the podium in the 67kg 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 himself earlier in the competition.
All eight Chinese weightlifters in Tokyo are gold medal contenders. Conditions are favorable for a historic sweep. Traditional rival North Korea is skipping the games entirely, citing the coronavirus pandemic.
No country can enter more than eight of the 14 competitions, which meant tough decisions for China. Some world record holders were left out, testifying to the depth of talent.
In the 61kg category, Li stood on one leg while lifting 166kg — nearly three times his own body weight — with his right leg sticking out in his opening clean and jerk.
The “flamingo” is a specialty for Li, who said it helps him correct his balance if a lift is in danger of going wrong.
“I have very strong core strength and muscles,” he said. “I know this move pleases the audience but I don’t suggest people make the same move. It could provoke injury.”
Li has done the move before at competitions, including at the 2017 Asian championships. He said he’s no show off — calling himself a “low-profile person” — just one with an unusual talent for saving a lift.
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