IWF120y/105 – 2008: Belarus on top of the world with Andrei Aramnau
Presently competing under a neutral status in the major international sports events (in consequence of the country’s position in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine), Belarus has eight medals in our sport at Olympic level, since its participation as an independent nation from 1996. These podium presences include one gold, four silver, and three bronze medals. In Beijing 2008, Belarus had its sole Olympic champion so far, thanks to the superb performance of Andrei Aramnau, who lifted 200-236-436 in the men’s 105kg category. It was the pinnacle of a career that also included a world title in 2007 and a silver medal at the 2019 (photo) IWF showcase. At European level, Aramnau also got two medals – silver in 2014 and 2019. The Belarussian star had a long career – the first result record in the IWF database is from 2006 (when he won a junior world title), while the last registered performance was achieved in 2021 (14th at the Europeans)! Before Aramnau, Gennady Oleshchuk (men’s 62kg category) and Sergey Lavrenov (men’s 69kg) were the first lifters from Belarus with Olympic medals – both won bronze at the Sydney 2000 Games. On the side of the most recent ones, Yauheni Tsikhantsou, competing as an independent neutral athlete at the 2024 Paris Games was also third in the men’s 102kg, after having successfully lifted 183-219-402, just 4kg and 2kg short of the gold and silver medal, respectively. Among women, three lifters have Olympic medals for Belarus: Hanna Batsiushka (silver, Athens 2004), Tatsiana Stukalava (bronze, Athens 2004), and Darya Naumava (silver, Rio 2016).
