News

There were three Olympic champions on the podium after Luo Shifang maintained China’s 100 per cent record at Paris 2024 with a third straight victory for the world’s strongest weightlifting team.

At the end of a tense and tearful 59kg session in which athletes from Colombia and Venezuela failed with last-lift attempts to win a medal, Luo was 5kg clear of Maude Charron from Canada. Charron won at 64kg in Tokyo and had to drop down when the weight categories changed for Paris.

Luo Shifang (CHN)

A further kilogram behind was Kuo Hsing-Chun from Chinese Taipei, who won gold at this weight in Tokyo. Cheered on by a huge following at the South Paris Arena, Kuo claimed her second bronze medal in her fourth Olympic appearance. The multiple champion and world record holder was third in the old 58kg category at Rio 2016.

“They travelled from everywhere to support me – I was really moved and I would like to thank them,” said Kuo, who had been in tears on the podium. “It wasn’t the perfect ending but I’m nearly 31 and I showed I can still get on the podium. I’m not sure I can do it again, which is why I was shedding tears.”

Luo is far younger than Kuo and 31-year-old Charron, and full of confidence. She had won after five attempts and instead of taking the last one she came out to wave to the crowd, enjoy her moment and let the clock run down.

Maude Charron (CAN)

“Success comes from perseverance and I have that,” said the 23-year-old. “I wasn’t nervous today, I didn’t feel the pressure and to be honest I have always been confident about this gold medal.”

Charron was delighted to perform well in front of her family, friends and clubmates after winning in an empty auditorium in Tokyo. “It was so great here, all the cheering reminded me of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (in 2022) where there was so much noise. You don’t always have a big crowd at weightlifting, and anyone who has qualified for this amazing event deserves to be celebrated.”

She must now think about her future. Charron has long planned a career in the police force and has undergone pre-entry training that is valid until 2027.

 “I have nothing on my schedule for the next month so I have time to figure things out,” said Charron. “I’m not sure I want to hang up my shoes yet. I still have a few good competitions in me, especially at this weight. I’m a better weightlifter at 59 than I was at 64.”

Kuo Hsing-Chun (TPE)

Luo finished on 107-134-241 and Charron, who also made five from six, equalled her career-best performance on 106-130-236. Kuo made 105-130-235, her best total since Tokyo. At those delayed Games three years ago 217kg was good enough for the silver medal; this time it would have been enough only for eighth place.

Tears flowed as athletes left the platform, when they returned for the medal ceremony and when they spoke to the media afterwards. “It was a unique experience, all the best athletes, and so much emotion,” said the Venezuelan Anyelin Venegas, who had a chance for a medal on her last attempt but could not take it.

The 2022 world champion Yenny Alvarez, from Colombia, also missed her medal chance and failed to make a total. In the media zone afterwards Alvarez gave an interview for Colombian radio despite crying throughout. As she was speaking through her tears, the European champion Kamila Konotop from Ukraine limped past, distraught after a right thigh injury had ended her medal hopes.

There were other last-lift moments to remember. Lucrezia Magistris from Italy, who had four bombouts and made only nine good lifts in seven qualifying competitions, was in danger of bombing out again when she came out for her final attempt. The crowd raised the noise level for her and she made the lift.

“It helped, I’d like to thank them for the support,” said Magistris, who is studying medicine and will take time to consider her future. “It’s difficult to be a weightlifter when you’re trying to become a doctor at the same time.”

Three women were level on 230kg in fourth, fifth and sixth places – Venegas, Rafiatu Lawal from Nigeria and Elreen Ando from the Philippines. Konotop made only her openers and finished seventh on 227kg.

Lawal made a great save on her final attempt after missing her first two clean and jerks, and rather than end her first Olympics with a bombout she went home with a personal best total of 230kg.

By Brian Oliver