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TCHATCHET Delivers Message of Hope at Olympic Games

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, TCHATCHET II Cyrille, then 18 years old, slipped away from Team Cameroon’s housing in search of a better life. Seven years later, TCHATCHET, lifted on the world’s greatest stage Saturday as a member of the Refugee Olympic Team (EOT).  “It didn’t go as planned. But I am happy with the result. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but you still have to celebrate our achievement, no matter how small or minor they are,” TCHATCHET said about his 10th place finish in the men’s 96kg category at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Living on the streets of Scotland, TCHATCHET called a suicide hotline. Police arrived and took him into custody while he applied for asylum. But through the darkness, TCHATCHET found one thing that kept him going; weightlifting. “I have not been able to stop weightlifting even when I was at my lowest moments,” TCHATCHET said. “Weightlifting is a bit addictive. I don’t think I can actually stop weightlifting until I am physically unable to do it.” Once granted asylum, TCHATCHET attended Middlesex University, where he met his coach.  “We’ve made a lot of good progress. I have had a lot of support in refining my technique. I have had a lot of support there,” TCHATCHET said. While TCHATCHET’s 350kg total may not have totally satisfied himself as an athlete, his performance Saturday at the Olympic Games should inspire millions around the world facing conflict and uncertainty.  “I have a message of hope. You shouldn’t give up life,” TCHATCHET said. “Life is like a roller coaster. You go through ups and downs. You have to keep working and keep

ELBAKH Shines as QAT Claims First-Ever Gold; CHN Picks Up Fifth Gold with LYU

ELBAKH Fares Ibrahim exploded with emotion Saturday night after making his opening 217kg clean and jerk. With that lift, he etched himself into Olympic history, winning his nation, QAT, its first ever Olympic gold medal in any sport.  “I am literally speechless about that. I hope that they are proud of me. I promise this is not the end, we still have more and more coming soon. We will do our best to make it even better,” ELBAKH said. He went on to lift a 225kg clean & jerk on his second attempt, for an Olympic Record in the lift and in total with 402kg. Loaders put 232kg on the bar, which would have been a new world record, but ELBAKH didn’t make it and would have to settle on owning the Olympic Record instead. “We worked more on the clean & jerk. We were confident about it. We had great competitors so we had to go hard for it and make sure we win,” ELBAKH said. VALLENILLA SANCHEZ Keydomar (VEN) took home silver with a 287kg total.  “I am very emotional. I thank God. I appreciate my family, my mother, my father and the Venezuelan federation. I got the silver medal and I’m very happy,” VALLENILLA SANCHEZ said. It’s the first time since the Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984 since Venezuela picked up multiple Olympic medals in a single sport at the same Games. VALLENILLA SANCHEZ’s silver follows MAYORA PERNIA Julio Ruben’s silver medal in the men’s 73kg category. PLIESNOI Anton, worked through an obvious leg injury, to clean & jerk 210kg on this third attempt, securing the bronze medal also with a 287kg total.  “I couldn’t imagine how I would be able to lift. I turned off my pain emotions and turned on my other emotions. I did my best,” PLIESNOI said. While VALLENILLA SANCHEZ and PLIESNOI had identical totals, the silver medal went to VEN since the athlete reached that total first in competition. CHN’s dominance in the men’s weightlifting competition at these Games continued in the men’s 81kg bodyweight category. LYU Xiaojun (CHN) swept the Olympic records with a 170kg snatch, 204kg clean & jerk and 374kg total, to claim Olympic gold, his nation’s 5th of the Tokyo 2020 Games. "Weightlifting is my lifetime career. My family is part of my life, and weightlifting is another part of my life. I really loved this weightlifting competition, and weightlifting itself. I think it is a beautiful art, that's maybe why I can take part for such a long time,” LYU said.  LYU turned 37 years old three days ago.  “Perhaps I can continue until I am 40,” LYU said. “I really enjoy having this opportunity to compete and work with the young athletes on the stage. I would like to thank my fans for believing in me and for the support." In an exciting back-and-forth clean & jerk competition, several athletes were vying for spots on the podium.  ONNAT MICHEL Zacarias (DOM) secured the silver with a 367kg, his nation’s first Weightlifting medal.  "I feel like I'm in a dream. It's historical for my country,” ONNAT MICHEL said. “It's the eighth Olympic medal in the history of the country, so I feel overwhelmed." PIZZOLATO Antonino secured ITA’s third weightlifting medal of these Games with a 365kg total.  "What's happening is that we started believing in it. We have a great team and we're not afraid of others,” PIZZOLATO said. After securing bronze with his second clean & jerk attempt, PIZZOLATO tried a 210kg clean & jerk which would have set a new World Record. "Obviously I was disappointed, but that feeling was replaced almost immediately with a feeling of joy for having won the medal. Any athlete would have wanted a different medal, but nevertheless I'm very happy that I got the bronze. This is something that will ignite me to try even harder,” PIZZOLATO said. Earlier in the day’s combined men’s combined 81kg and 96kg B session, TCHATCHET II Cyrille took the platform representing the Refugee Olympic Team (EOR). He placed 10th overall with a 350kg. “It didn’t go as planned. But I am happy with the result,” TCHATCHET said. “Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but you still have to celebrate our achievement, no matter how small or minor they are. So I am happy with my

CHN Sets World Record; INA Snatches Bronze From B Session

CHN claimed its third gold medal and first World Record of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Wednesday after an exciting men’s 73kg session that produced the bronze medalist from the B group of the competition. SHI Zhiyong (CHI) broke his World Record in total with 364kg, one kilogram more than the record he set at the 2019 IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Pattaya, Thailand. That total also set new Olympic and Asian continental records. His 166kg snatch and 198kg clean & jerk Wednesday also set new Olympic Records.  “All I want for Olympics is just to break the record for myself for a long time,” SHI said. “I’m really grateful [for] the IOC and the Japanese government for having the Games.” SHI, the 2016 Olympic Champion in the men’s 69kg category becomes the second weightlifter to win back-to-back Olympic titles in the men's lightweight category, after Waldemar BASZANOWSKI (POL) did it in 1964 and 1968. VEN’s MAYORA PERNIA Julio Ruben took home silver, with a 346kg total.  “I dedicate it to my children, to my daughter, to my wife, to my parents, to my father. It is very important and I know with their support I can go to Paris in 2024,” MAYORA PERNIA said. MAYORA PERNIA’s silver medal was VEN’s first medal of these Olympic Games, and only their second Olympic medal ever in weightlifting. RUBIO Israel won bronze in the men’s 62kg category at the Olympic Games Athens 2004. The biggest shocker of the day happened eight hours earlier in the men’s 73kg B session, where ABDULLAH Rahmat Erwin (INA) matched the Olympic Standard in clean & jerk with a 190kg lift on his final attempt. The lift gave ABDULLAH a 342kg total, which earned him a bronze medal. He returned to the Tokyo International Forum to receive his medal, his nation’s third in weightlifting at these Games. “The only thing I do is just praying I can get one medal,” ABDULLAH said about watching the A session. Thursday and Friday are rest days for Weightlifting. Action at the Tokyo International Forum returns Saturday with the men’s 81kg and 96kg

CAN Strikes Gold; TKM Earns First-Ever Olympic Medal

For the second consecutive day, a nation had an Olympic first-- and weightlifting played host to the historic moments.  On Tuesday, Turkmenistan ended its Olympic medal drought, when GURYEVA Polina broke through, winning silver in the women’s 59kg bodyweight category -- the first medal of any kind for the nation. “I am really proud about this and I think the Turkmenistani people will be happy about this. I will continue my training and try to have more success," GURYEVA said. Turkmenistan first entered Olympic competition in 1996 at the Games in Atlanta. Its historic moment came one day after DIAZ Hidilyn, 4-time Olympian and 2016 Olympic silver medalist of the Philippines struck gold, the nation’s first gold medal since it entered Olympic competition in 1924.  But it was TPE’s KUO Hsing-Chun who was crowned Olympic Champion in the women’s 59kg category Tuesday evening. She took home all three Olympic Records, a 103kg snatch, 133kg clean & jerk and 236kg total, besting GURYEVA by 19kg. “I finally have my gold medal. All the pieces have come together now. I'm very happy,” KUO said. “Today I have this medal, and maybe I can have a bigger influence to encourage young people to participate in this sport." KUO attempted to break her world record in clean & jerk with a 141kg lift, but came up short. “I aimed for the world record. I couldn't achieve that today, which was a bit of a regret, but I did get the gold medal, so I'm happy,” KUO said. KUO’s gold was TPE’s sixth gold medal in the Olympic Games. Five of TPE’s six Olympic gold medals have been won by women. She won bronze at the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016. ANDOH Mikiko, of the host nation Japan, won bronze, improving from her 5th place finish at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games. “I’m very happy that I got a bronze medal. This is something that I can show to people,” ANDOH said. “When I succeeded with 120kg it got me the medal. When I heard the buzzer I thought, 'at last, I've got a medal'. I was filled with emotions." CAN’s Maude CHARRON struck gold in the 64kg bodyweight category, besting the competition in her first Olympic Games.  "I thought about my grandmother,” CHARRON said about what she was thinking about while standing atop the podium. “Once she told me she'd like me to sing the Canadian anthem, so I sang it - but on the podium at the Olympics." BORDIGNON Giorgia claimed silver, posting a a 232kg total, and earning ITA’s second Weightlifting medal at these Tokyo Games. "Things are changing, there's a new generation, and now who's winning are the people who are facing their fears, and they thoroughly deserve it,” BORDIGNON said. CHEN Wen-Huei picked up TPE’s second weightlifting medal of the day, winning bronze with a 230kg total "It's amazing. Now we can show that in (our country) weightlifting is very valued, and we are really good at it,” CHEN said. CHEN’s medal was TPE’s fifth Olympic medal in weightlifting. Earlier in the day’s combined 59kg & 64kg B session, ELLIOTT Kiana Rose (AUS) set a new Oceania Continental Record in snatch with a 101kg lift, besting her 100kg record set at the Australian Open in February 2020. Her 209kg total placed her 11th overall. The men return to the platform Wednesday with the 73kg bodyweight category. The B session begins at 13:50 followed by the A session at

DIAZ dazzles and claims PHI’s first ever Olympic Gold

After nearly a century of trying, a Filipino athlete finally landed atop the Olympic podium-- and it happened in the sport of Weightlifting.  A 97-year drought ended Monday as DIAZ Hidilyn, 30, in her fourth consecutive Olympic Games, stunned the world and won an Olympic Gold for the Philippines, the nation’s first since entering Olympic competition in 1924.  “I did not give up during the pandemic. I am really thankful. Winning the gold medal is a really big thing for me and all of the Philippine people.” DIAZ said. In a thrilling back-and-forth clean & jerk session, DIAZ had the final attempt in the competition. With 127kg loaded on the bar, a successful attempt would mean two Olympic Records, the title of Olympic Champion and making her mark in Olympic history.  A miss meant another silver medal, equaling her result five years ago at the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016. As DIAZ jerked the bar overhead, the silence of the nearly-empty Tokyo International Forum was deafening. A moment after the bar hit the platform, DIAZ exploded in emotion, letting out a scream and bursting into tears as her coaches celebrated with her on stage. It was a cathartic moment for millions of Filipinos around the world who, for generations, have waited nearly 100 years for a taste of Olympic glory. “I want to say to the Philippine people that we can do it. We are proud,” DIAZ said.  DIAZ ended the day with the Olympic Record in clean & jerk, 127kg and total 224kg. LIAO Qiuyun took home silver with a 223kg, ending CHN’s streak of winning all of the Olympic Weightlifting gold medals awarded thus far in these Games. "I really enjoyed the Olympic Games and I did the best I can, in fact better than I imagined,” LIAO said. "I really respect my opponent because she did a better job. I'm thankful for all the people who supported me.” KAZ’s CHINSHANLO Zulfiya won bronze with a 213kg total.  NABIEVA Muattar (UZB) set an Olympic Record in snatch with a 98kg lift.  Earlier in the day’s B session, five women took to the platform, including LIFY Mary Kini, the sole weightlifting athlete from Solomon Islands and only one of three athletes the Solomon Islands National Olympic Committee sent to these Games. “It means a lot to me [to be one of three athletes representing SOL at these Olympic Games],” LIFY told the IWF. “This is my first time as an Olympian, so today I am really happy.” A special moment on the platform after the session’s final lift. ŁOCHOWSKA Joanna (POL) took off her shoes and placed them on the platform to announce her retirement from the sport. LOCHOWSKA’s first took the international stage in 2007. She won three European Championships in her career and appeared at the Olympic Games London 2012. Tuesday’s action in Tokyo includes two more medal rounds as the women’s 59kg A session begins at 15:50 followed by the women’s 64kg A session at 19:50. A combined 59kg B and 64kg B session starts the day of competition at

CHN Sweeps Gold on Day 2 of Tokyo 2020

CHN owns all of the gold medals in the Weightlifting competition thus far after the nation swept the top of the podium in Sunday’s medal sessions of at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Sunday.  After a slow start in snatch in the men’s 67kg competition, CHEN Lijun (CHN) shined in the clean & jerk. The 4-time IWF World Champion jumped 12 kilograms on his second attempt to make 187kg, an Olympic Record, and a 332kg total, another Olympic Record to secure the gold medal. He skipped his third attempt. "I have many feelings, because since a long time I’ve been struggling - working hard,” CHEN said. "My contestants are very strong; they are very respectable. So because they are strong, I feel I have to be stronger. MOSQUERA LOZANO Luis Javier set a new Pan American Record in snatch, with a 151kg lift, as he went on to win the silver medal. The 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist’s 331kg total set an Olympic Record before it was broken one lift later by CHEN (CHN).  "I want to thank god for this situation. It's been really, really tough to get here. We had to fight very hard, so I thank god for this opportunity and for this win,” MOSQUERA LOZANO said. “"It's been wonderful to fight against my Chinese opponent. I'm also very happy for him and for my Italian colleague. But let's hope that we get more medals in the future.” ITA’s ZANNI Mirko pulled himself back from the brink of disaster to win bronze. After missing his 172kg opening clean & jerk, he missed 177kg on his second attempt. ZANNI had a strong showing on his third attempt, making 177kg to secure third place overall. He’s the first athlete from ITA to win an Olympic medal in Weightlifting since Noberto OBERBURGER won gold in the men's 100kg event at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984. Earlier in the day’s first A session, LI Fabin (CHN) set new Olympic Records in clean & jerk (116kg) and total (313kg) as he claimed gold in his first Olympic Games. "I always set a higher place to push myself to be better. It was a little easier than I thought,” the 2019 World Champion said. “On the first snatch (137kg) I could not make it. So I kept calm and just did it. I am really excited.” Saturday, CHN’s HOU Zhihui won gold in the women’s 49kg category, the day’s only medal session. Silver medalist IRAWAN Eko Yuli (INA) joined an elite list of Weightlifting athletes to win a medal at four Olympic Games. IRAWAN, who turned 32 years old Saturday, is only the fifth Weightlifting athlete to achieve the feat after Pyrros DIMAS (GRE), Nikolai PESHALOV (CRO), Ronny WELTER (GDR/GER) and Norbert SCHEMANSKY (USA). IRAWAN now owns two Olympic silver and two Olympic bronze medals, the only athlete from Indonesia to win more than three Olympic medals in any sport.  “I am very grateful even though I have not gotten any gold medals yet,” IRAWAN said. “I think the pandemic really bothered my training. I had to practice at home. The delay made it difficult to get the gold medal.”  In the clean & jerk portion of the competition both LI and IRAWAN attempted world records. LI would win the battle, but not the world record, settling for a 113kg clean & jerk, a new Olympic Record.  "To me the record is not the Olympic record, it is my own record,” LI said. “I just wanted to break my own record.” SON Igor (KAZ) took home the bronze medal with a 294kg total.  “Right now I cannot describe my feelings, but it is amazing. I am just happy,” SON said. “I was nervous and scared watching my other competitors. I got my medal, but it was scary watching the others.” The first session of the day brought a unique circumstance, thanks to a quirk in the competition schedule. The ANDRIANTSITOHAINA brothers of Madagascar shared the Olympic stage during the combined men’s 61kg and 67kg B session of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. “It was good to compete with my brother,” the younger ANDRIANTSITOHAINA brother, Tojonirina Alain, 26, said. “Our family is very proud about the competition.” “Both of us were on this road together and we are so happy to be here,” the older ANDRIANTSITOHAINA brother, Eric Herman, told the IWF after the competition. “It’s a pleasure [to share the Olympic platform with my brother].” The brothers are the only athletes from Madagascar in the weightlifting competition at Tokyo 2020. Monday’s competition brings the women’s 55kg bodyweight category to the Olympic stage. The women’s 55kg B session begins at 1:50PM followed by the A session at