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IWF120y/98 – 2024: Li Wenwen (CHN) ‘jumps’ for the gold at the Games

The last weightlifting competition day at the 2024 Paris Olympics had only one event on the programme: the women’s +81kg. And what a great way to conclude the Games it was! With the group of 12 lifters visibly happy to be performing in such a prestigious scenario, the gold medal went to favourite Li Wenwen from China, in 136-173-309, her second consecutive Olympic title after also reaching the highest step of the podium in Tokyo 2020ne (then, with a performance of 140-180-320). But if in the Japanese capital the podium celebrations had to be more sober (COVID pandemic oblige), the atmosphere in Paris was clearly more relaxed. While on both sides of the podium, Hyejeong Park (KOR, silver) and Emily Campbell (GBR, bronze) had received their medals, a very happy Chinese ace literally jumps to the highest step when she is called to receive her gold award. It was one of the moments of the Paris competition, in what was also the most followed (TV-wise) weightlifting event of the entire Games. Born in March 2000, Li is one of the five female lifters so far with two Olympic titles. Her road to stardom started in 2019, when she is second at the IWF World Cup. In the same year, she wins her first continental title in Asia (she got two more gold medals, in 2020 and 2023), and she is also first at the IWF Worlds (in the +87kg category, 146-186-332). After Tokyo’s achievement, she is the best at the 2022 IWF showcase, and she already gives a good indication of her motivation for Paris 2024, winning some months before the IWF World Cup in 145-180-325. Li is also the current WR holder in her category for the Clean and Jerk (187kg) and Total (335kg).