NANJING, CHINA — Armenia’s Simon Martirosyan won gold without breaking into a sweat in the men’s +85kg weightlifting division. From the outset, Martirosyan set a pace that nobody had a chance of matching.
Before competition starts, contestants must state the minimum amount they want on the barbell for their first lift in both the snatch and the clean and jerk, and these figures are displayed publicly.
Martirosyan’s starting weight in the snatch was 170kg, which was 30kg more than that listed by silver medallist Tamas Kajdoci (SRB), who opted to lift 145kg when the moment arrived.
The Armenian then wowed the crowd with a lift of 221kg in the clean and jerk – just short of double his body weight – to confirm the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games title.
After he lifted 205kg with his second attempt in the clean and jerk, Martirosyan stunned the audience when he added 16kg for his third lift.
He stood over the barbell, stamped his feet and proved his strength with a clean lift.
His total was 391kg, 55kg heavier than Kajdoci’s barbell. The bronze went to Anthony Coullet (FRA), who lifted 327 kg.
“I knew I was going to win,” Martirosyan said afterwards. “For me, not having competition is not fun because I like to be challenged.”
