Weightlifting drama as 56kg contenders trade records

Long Qingquan and Om Yun-Chol, the 2008 and 2012 gold medalists, respectively, traded records while taking the event down to the last, unprecedented lift.

China’s Long Qingquan lifted 170kg in the jerk for a world record total of 307kg to take the men’s 56kg weightlifting gold medal at the Rio Olympics on Sunday.

Turkey’s Halil Mutulu had set the previous world record total of 305kg at Sydney 2000, and defending champion Om fell just two kilos short of that score himself in finishing second.

It also ended Om s four-year domination of the men s lightest weight category.

The pressure was back on the Chinese lifter, but he responded with a second effort of 166kg to move ahead by five kilograms, and Om, under even greater pressure, found the Olympic record weight of 169kg too much for him as his legs wobbled and buckled under duress.

Long said their feats of strength made them the world’s strongest men. I am really proud.

Om Yun Chaol from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea grabbed the silver with 303kg and Sinphet Kuraithong of Thailand had the bronze in 289kg. The North Korean won gold at London 2012 before winning three straight world championships.

According to Xinhua, the 25-year-old native of Longshan drew first blood during the snatch by surpassing Om’s leading 134kg with a hoist of 137kg. Eight years later and I’m married and I’m going to be a father.

According to Inside the Game, Sinphet Kruaithhong of Thailand settled for the bronze medal after a snatch of 132kg and a clean-and-jerk of 157kg gave him a total of 289, 11 more than the fourth-placed Arli Chontey of Kazakhstan.