News

Behdad Salimikordasiabi added the Olympic crown to his world and Asian titles as he triumphed in the men’s +105kg and brought the curtain down on Weightlifting at London 2012.

Salimikordasiabi, from Iran, was the favourite for victory and the super heavyweight rose to the occasion to confirm his title as the ‘strongest lifter in the world’.

The 22-year-old managed a total of 455kg, which was not enough to eclipse the mammoth 472kg world and Olympic record managed by legendary compatriot Hossein Rezazadeh in 2000, but it did clinch Iran’s first Weightlifting gold since 2004.

And the vast numbers of Iranian fans inside ExCeL were afforded further delight after Sajjad Anoushiravani (449kg) took silver, with Russia’s Ruslan Albegov (448kg) going home with bronze.

Beijing 2008 gold medallist Matthias Steiner was denied the chance to defend his crown after he was forced to withdraw following an injury.

Making his second snatch attempt of 196kg, Steiner was unable to raise the weights fully and, falling back, could not help but drop the bar down on to his head and then shoulder.

Steiner thankfully managed to walk off stage but forfeited his third attempt to receive treatment, and it was later announced that he would not be able to continue and headed to hospital for a routine assessment.