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Aramnau of Belarus wins men's 105kg weightlifting gold
Xinhua
Updated: 2008-08-18 20:59
Andrei Aramnau of Belarus competes in the men's 105 kg weightlifting event during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on August 18, 2008.[ Agencies]
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Belarusian lifter Andrei Aramnau broke three world records to claim title in men's 105kg category on Monday, winning the first gold for Europe in weightlifting at Beijing Olympics.
Aramnau, 2007 world champion, snatched 200kg, bettering previous world record created by Polish lifter Marcin Dolega, by one kilo. He jerked 236kg, breaking the clean and jerk, as well as the total world records, which were both created nine years ago in 1999.
Russian strongman Dmitriy Klokov, who cleared 423kg, got the silver and the bronze went to another Russian Dmitry Lapikov, 2005 world champion, with 420kg.
It seemed pre-game hot favorite Marcin Dolega was his strongest rival in the snatch section, as Dolega lifted 195kg in his first attempt and ordered 200kg in the second, trying to break his own snatch world record of 199, but failed. It was achieved one minute later by Aramnau in his third attempt.
Dolega tried 201kg, but failed again. However, he still had a chance as he finished second place in snatch, if he didn't fail two attempts again in clean and jerk.
The 2006 world champion jerked 225kg in his first attempt, totaling 420kg. He was edged out from the third place by Lapikov due to bodyweight difference.
Aramnau, 20, didn't miss a single attempt in clean and jerk and finally claimed the title with new world records.
