Additional Coverage:
- Hampton Morris becomes first American man to win Olympic weightlifting medal in 40 years (newsbreak.com)
During the recent Olympic Games, Li Fabin of China successfully defended his title in the men’s 61-kilogram weightlifting division, setting a new Games record in the process. The 31-year-old athlete secured his victory by lifting 143 kilograms (about 315 pounds) in the snatch, surpassing his own performance from the Tokyo Games. He further solidified his lead by lifting 167 kilograms (about 368 pounds) in the clean and jerk, concluding with a total score of 310.
His achievement marked another significant milestone for Hampton Morris from the United States, who captured the bronze medal, making him the first American man to place in Olympic weightlifting in 40 years. Despite an ambitious attempt to set a world record in the clean and jerk, Morris ended the competition with a total score of 303. Theerapong Silachai from Thailand earned the silver medal.
Morris, a 20-year-old from Marietta, Georgia, encountered some difficulties during his attempts, including a slip at the outset. Yet, he managed a successful lift of 172 kilograms (about 378 pounds) on his second try. Morris, trained by his father at their home gym, has already achieved significant success in weightlifting, with several national records and multiple world championship medals to his name.
On another note, Eko Yuli Irawan of Indonesia, a highly experienced and decorated Olympian, faced a setback when he sustained an injury on his final lift, affecting his performance.
This year’s weightlifting competition underwent some adjustments with the 61-kilogram class being one of only five categories, reduced from seven in the previous Olympics. The competition also experienced a brief delay due to unforeseen technical maintenance issues.