Luo Shifang Wins Gold in Women’s 59kg Weightlifting, Sets New Olympic Records
Luo Shifang claimed the gold medal in the women’s 59kg weightlifting event on Thursday, marking a historic moment as multiple Olympic records were shattered throughout the competition. The event took place in South Paris, where Luo’s exceptional performance solidified her place at the top of the sport. With a total lift of 241kg across both portions of the competition, Luo not only secured the gold medal but also set a new Olympic record. This total lift included an impressive 107kg in the snatch and a remarkable 134kg in the clean and jerk, both of which were new Olympic records. Luo’s total is also the current world record in this weight class, underscoring her dominance in the sport.
The competition was fierce from the start, with Luo, Canada’s Maude Charron, and Taiwan’s Kuo Hsing-Chun all breaking the previous Olympic record in the snatch portion. This intense battle kept spectators on the edge of their seats, as each lifter pushed the limits of their strength and skill. However, it was Luo who ultimately lifted the heaviest weight, setting herself apart from the competition.
As the event progressed to the clean and jerk portion, Luo further established her supremacy with a record-breaking lift of 134kg, surpassing the previous Olympic record of 133kg. Despite strong attempts from Kuo and Venezuela’s Anyelin Venegas Valera to challenge her, neither could surpass Luo’s outstanding performance.
In the end, Luo Shifang emerged as the undisputed champion, adding another gold medal to her impressive collection as the reigning world champion. Maude Charron secured the silver medal, while Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Kuo Hsing-Chun took home the bronze. The competition was not without its share of heartbreak, however, as Ukraine’s Kamila Konotop suffered a hamstring injury during her second attempt in the snatch portion. Despite her valiant efforts to continue, the injury proved too much, and she was unable to complete all her attempts in the clean and jerk.
