Lasha Talakhadze, the reigning “world’s strongest man,” solidified his dominance by winning a third consecutive Olympic heavyweight gold medal on Saturday. The Georgian, undefeated in major championships since 2015, faced an unusual challenge as he trailed Gor Minasyan of Bahrain in the snatch portion of the competition. However, Talakhadze displayed his strength and resilience in the clean and jerk, overcoming the deficit to secure a total of 470kg. Varazdat Lalayan of Armenia finished second, 3kg behind, with Minasyan taking bronze.
The changing weight categories in the Paris Olympics posed significant challenges for athletes. Earlier medalists spoke of the sacrifices they made to adapt, whether it was cutting weight or gaining weight. While dieting was less of a concern in the heavyweight class, the lighter athletes had to make substantial adjustments. Talakhadze, weighing in at a massive 178.45kg, towered over the lightest competitor, 20-year-old Ali Ammar Rubaiawa of Iraq, who weighed 134.85kg.
The reduction in gold medals for weightlifting in Paris led to wider weight gaps, forcing athletes to make difficult decisions. Liu Huanhua, the first champion of the day, described the “torture” of gaining weight to compete in a heavier class. He lifted 406kg in the 102kg class, falling short of his own world record by 7kg. Liu explained the arduous process of gaining 21kg, requiring him to increase his food intake significantly and engage in extensive cardio training. Akbar Djuraev of Uzbekistan finished second, while Yauheni Tsikhantsou of Belarus took bronze.
In the women’s 81kg class, Solfrid Koanda of Norway emerged victorious with a total of 275kg, securing a 7kg lead over Sara Ahmed of Egypt. Koanda had moved down from the 87kg category, highlighting the adjustments many athletes had to make. Both Neisi Dajomes of Ecuador and Akbar Djuraev of Uzbekistan, who won gold in Tokyo in categories that have been eliminated, had to settle for silver and bronze respectively in their new weight classes. Dajomes had bulked up from 76kg, while Djuraev had slimmed down from 109kg, facing significant challenges in adapting to the changes.
The Paris Olympics witnessed a shift in weightlifting categories, demanding sacrifices and adjustments from athletes. While some embraced the challenges, others faced difficulties in adapting to their new weight classes, showcasing the dedication and resilience required to compete at the highest level.
