TOKYO − Georgia’s Lasha Talakhadze won his second Olympic gold medal with dominance in the men's over 109kg weightlifting at Tokyo 2020 here today by breaking his own world records in the process.
The 27-year-old Talakhadze has dominated this category since the International Weightlifting Federation made the decision to reshuffle the divisions in 2018, according to Xinhua news agency.
The Rio Olympic champion met no challenge in the snatch as he hoisted 223kg in his third attempt, one kilo more than his own world record.
Talakhadze, collecting 12 European titles and nine world titles, extended his lead as he began his solo in the clean and jerk after all the lifters finished their competition.
He jerked 245kg in his first attempt to nail the gold medal, but he did not stop and pushed himself to hoist a new world 265kg in his last lift. His total lifts of 488kg eclipsed the world record by three kilos.
Ali Davoudi of Iran, the Asian champion this year, lifted a total of 441kg to claim the silver while the bronze went to Man Asaad of Syria at 424kg.
Talakhadze became the first Georgian to win multiple Olympic gold medals in any sport. – Bernama, August 4, 2021
