China has enjoyed a great deal of success in the weightlifting events in Rio, and on Wednesday the nation won its third gold medal in those competitions.
Xiang Yanmei won the women’s 69 kg (152 lbs) division, with the two-time World champion taking gold in her first-ever Summer Olympics. Xiang won with a total weight lifted of 261 kilograms, with her best lifts of 116 kilograms in the snatch and 145 kilograms in the clean and jerk both coming in the second rotation. Xiang joins Deng Wei and Long Qingquan as China’s weightlifting gold medalists in these Olympic Games.
Taking the silver was Kazakhstan’s Zhazira Zhapparkul, who like Xiang was making her first Olympic appearance. Zhapparkul lifted a total of 259 kilograms, and she also finished second to Xiang in last year’s World Championships. Kazakhstan now has three weightlifting medals in these Olympics.
Taking the bronze was Egypt’s Sara Ahmed, and in doing so the 18-year old made history. Ahmed is Egypt’s first-ever female Olympic medalist, and she finished fourth in last year’s World Championships.
