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Mattheus Pessanha claimed a world record as he won at 102kg to complete a golden double for Brazil at the World Youth and Junior Championships in Lima, Peru.

On a good day for the Pan American nations, 15-year-old Lidysmar Aparicio from Venezuela made her final lift to win the 81kg Youth world title and also finish on the podium in the Juniors behind the clear winner from PRK, Kim Yong Ju. Another Venezuelan, Barbara Mendoza was second in the Youth super-heavyweights.

Pessanha, who was involved in the best men’s session at last year’s World Juniors in León, Spain on his international debut, has since joined the Navy and is able to train full-time in Rio de Janeiro.

Matheus Pessanha (BRA)

He had never bettered 215kg in competition or training but he did it with the last of six good lifts to take the clean and jerk junior world record on 220kg. Pessanha, who will be 20 in August, is his nation’s first male world champion in any age group – five days after 14-year-old Isanelly da Silva became Brazil’s first female winner in the 40kg Youths.

“Our preparations for this competition were very good,” said national coach Dragos Doru Storica. “We have more weightlifters now, we train better. We are coming.”

Pessanha had a world record for about a minute and a half in León seven months ago. He lost it to the next lift by the champion from Turkmenistan, Shahzadbek Matyakubov.

Matyakubov is too old for the Juniors now. Pessanha and the 2024 bronze medallist Mahmoud Hosny from Egypt had strong competition this time from Iran, which fielded the 18-year-olds Abolfazi Zare and Amirmohammad Soileimani.

With three lifts remaining, Mattheus had put himself in a good position by making all five lifts to lead by 1kg. Zare, also on five good lifts, went first at 214kg and failed. Hosny was a long way behind after three failures and went for 215kg for clean and jerk gold. He, too, failed.

Out came Pessanha to make his record lift and finish 175-220-395, up 12kg on last year when he was second. Zare made 176-210-386, and Hosny 168-203-371. Soleimani was fourth, 45kg behind the winner.

Enrique Montero, president of the Brazil Federation for 12 years, acknowledged the role of his coach and highlighted the fine details that have helped the team to thrive.

“Small details make a big difference in high-performance sport, and we have improved them all round,” Montero said.

“Our national championships now are run with the infrastructure of a World Championships. We have a new training base, new equipment, professional support, and new athletes. If we keep improving the details we can keep winning medals.”

Kim Jong Yu (PRK)

Women 81 Juniors and Youths

Kim Jong Yu made all six lifts and finished 5kg clear, giving PRK its first Junior world title since the team last competed in this event in 2016. Kim Ju Phyong had a chance to beat her to it in the men’s 61kg on Thursday but he injured himself and had to withdraw after finishing second in snatch.

Kim, 20, made 110-142-252 ahead of 18-year-old Xu Qianran from China on 106-141-247.

Third place went to Lidysmar Aparicio from Venezuela. The 15-year-old had a great day, winning the Youth world title and taking a sweep of bronze medals in the Juniors.

Aparicio improved her best total, made at the Bolivarian Games last November, by 20kg in making all six attempts for 103-127-230.

Lidysmar Aparicio (VEN)

Li Xue, a 17-year-old debutant from China, led until Aparicio made her final lift. Li failed once in snatch in making 104-125-229.  

Alya Maulida Kartika from Indonesia became Indonesia’s first medallist on total at the dual Championships, making a six-from-six 96-120-216 in third place.

Women +81 Youths

The top three did not miss a lift between them. Uzbekistan had its first winner of the week, after two second-place finishes, when Mohinur Esonboeva made 98-127-225.

Barbara Mendoza was second for Venezuela on 99-125-224, and Mollie King became New Zealand’s second medallist in successive days when she made 97-126-223.

Sofia Vragova from Russia, competing as a neutral, failed with her last two attempts after winning snatch gold and finished fourth on 100-113-213.

Men 102 Youths

Georgia had two on the podium. Jaba Tkeshelashvili, who was fourth in the same venue at last year’s World Youths, won by a wide margin on 145-192-337.

Alisher Osmanov from Uzbekistan was second on 146-170-316 and Saba Chikhladze led the B Group lifters to take third place on 130-162-292.

Hossein Yazdani (IRI)

Men +102 Youths

Hossein Yazdani won for Iran on 144-190-334, finishing clear of three athletes who were separated by 1kg. Harutyun Hovhannisyan from Armenia was second on 150-173-323 ahead of Volodymyr Chmykh from Ukraine on 143-180-323.

Fourth-placed Semen Karaev from Russia, competing as a neutral, was edged out of the medals on total despite taking snatch silver and clean and jerk bronze on 147-175-322.

By Brian Oliver

Photos by Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia