Chinese lifter Lu Xiaojun won the gold medal in men's 77kg and broke his own world records in snatch and total on Wednesday.
Lu Xiaojun performs at men's 77kg category weightlifting competition in London Olympics on August 1, 2012. [Xinhua] |
Lu, 2011 world champion, proved himself too strong when he successfully set new snatch world record with 175kg in the second attempt. He intended to take the mark even higher with the third attempt of 177kg, but was unable to due to running short of time.
In the clean-and-jerk, Lu secured the gold medal with his first attempt of 195kg. He went for a new total world record by jerking 204kg and succeeded in the final attempt, finishing with 379kg, 1kg more than the previous world record.
On setting new world records, Lu said, "If people think that is a big weight to lift, it is part of our training. We repeat with weights of 180, 200, 205 and 210kg then go the other way with 210, 205kg and so on. We repeat that every day. It is part of our method and technique."
China's Lu Haojie, a potential gold medal contender, suffered an injury to his left arm with his failed attempt at the world snatch record on 175kg but showed great courage to manage a 190kg clean-and-jerk to tie up the silver medal.
"China lost the gold medal to South Korea in this division in 2008 Bejing Olympics. We are here for a revenge and we want both the gold and the silver." Lu said.
"Although I stretched my arms, I will do my utmost to win the silver," Lu added. "As long as Chinese athlete wins the gold, it's ok!"
Ivan Cambar Rodriguez won Cuba's first bronze at London 2012 with a total of 349kg. The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games gold medalist South Korean SA Jaehyouk injured his elbow during the snatch section and was unable to continue.
Earlier at the Excel arena, DPRK lifter Rim Jong Sim claimed the gold medal in women's 69kg with a total of 261kg. Romanian Roxana Daniela Cocos and Belorussian Maryna Shermankova both lifted 256kg in total, the former took home the silver medal because of less bodyweight.
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