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Chinese weightlifter Liao Hui wins the Olympic gold medal in the men's 69kg weightlifting class on Tuesday, August 12, 2008. [Photo: Xinhua]
Liao Hui won the mens' 69kg division by a big margin to give China its fifth weightlifting gold medal at the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old Chinese claimed the title at 348kg, beating French Vencelas Dabaya-Tientcheu by 10kms who took the silver medal thanks to lighter body weight. Tigran Martirosyan of Armenia came third.
Liao's victory helped China equal the number of gold medals that China won at Athens four years ago as there are six competition days to go.
Liao struggled in the snatch. He claimed 153kg in the first attempt but only lifted it in the second one. As Lee Baeyoung succeed at 155kg in his third lift, Liao had to upgrade his attempt to 158 and made it with a loud shout.
Lee failed to keep pace in the clean and jerk as he hurt his left ankle in the first attempt and quit the competition, leaving Liao, Dabaya-Tientcheu and Martirosyan to fight for the medals.
Liao jerked 185kg on his second attempt to maintain the lead, but Vencelas responded with 187kg in his first lift. After Liao finished 190kg in his final attempt, Vencelas had to lift more than 197kg, which is a world record weight.
Vencelas failed twice at 197kg, giving Liao his first Olympic gold.
Men's 69kg is the only division where powerhouse China entered two players. Shi Zhiyong, who won the title of men's 62kg in Athens and changed to 69kg division after that, lifted 152kg in the snatch and quit the competition before the clean and jerk battle.
Before Liao, China had swept all the four gold medals in as many events that the Chinese weightlifter took part in.
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