The 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, are finally here. After an 18-month qualification period that took each of them to the brink, a small handful of the best 61-kilogram weightlifters in the world will meet on the lifting platform at 9:00 a.m. EST on August 7 to set records, win medals, and make history.
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BarBend will update this page as the event progresses, including podium results and a play-by-play of the competition from start to finish. Stay tuned!
2024 Olympics: Men’s 61-Kilogram Weightlifting
The Men’s 61-kilogram event represents one of the Olympic’s most stacked divisions this year. Don’t buy it? Look at the final Totals of the entrants before Paris.
Leaderboard topper and 2020 Olympic Champion Li Fabin led the way and was considered the favorite for gold before the event. But behind him lay half a dozen athletes with very similar capabilities. This event truly was anyone’s game.
- Li Fabin (CHN): 314
- Hampton Morris (USA): 303
- Sergio Massidda (ITA): 302
- Eko Yuli Irawan (INA): 300
- John Ceniza (PHI): 300
- Theerapong Silachai (THA): 299
- Shota Mishvelidze (GEO): 298
- Bin Kasdan Mohamad Aniq (MAS): 296
- Trinh Van Vinh (VIE): 294
- Ivan Dimov (BUL): 293
- Morea Baru (PNG): 281, Continental
- Kaimauri Erati (KIR): Universality
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2024 Olympics Men’s 61-Kilogram Weightlifting Results
Men’s 61-Kilogram Podium
- Gold: Li Fabin (CHN) — 310 (143 / 167) — Olympic Record Snatch
- Silver: Silachai Theerapong (THA) — 303 (132 / 171)
- Bronze: Hampton Morris (USA) — 298 (126 / 172)
Event Recap — Snatch
Kiribati’s Kaimauri Erati opened the 61-kilogram event with 95 kilograms, but the bar quickly ascended to 114 from Georgia’s Shota Mishvelidze. Team USA’s Hampton Morris appeared for his first successful snatch at 122, though it was characteristically wobbly from the 20-year-old.
Papua New Guinea’s Morea Baru committed the first miss of the session at 122 kilograms, which kicked off a string of missed lifts from several athletes. Morris failed his 125-kilogram second attempt, and it was Team Italy’s Sergio Massidda—a presumptive medalist—who bombed out on all of his snatches, changing the game and opening up another podium slot.
Morris saved a 126-kilogram snatch in a clutch maneuver on his third attempt, while Ivan Dimov of Bulgaria, Filipino John Ceniza, and Trin Vanh Vinh of Vietnam all bombed out. Indonesia’s Eko Yuli Irawan, battling for his fifth consecutive Olympic medal, finished second in snatches with 135 kilos. Team China’s powerhouse and snatch world record holder Li Fabin went 3-for-3 and set a new Olympic record in the snatch with his final lift at 143.
Event Recap — Clean & Jerk
Kiribati kicked off clean & jerks, though he failed his final attempt at 124 kilograms. Oddly, Mishvelidze came out for 125 kilograms; far below his best effort of 162. He finished with a failed attempt at 150 kilograms.
With the field thinned during the snatch portion, it was a tight battle as the bar rapidly ascended past 160 kilograms. Of the podium contenders, Irawan appeared first but awkwardly failed to jerk 162 kilos twice in a row. Kasdan elected for 165 but bumped up to burn Irawan’s clock and force him out for his third declaration at the same weight. Irawan failed, bombing out in clean & jerks.
With Irawan out, an opportunity emerged for Thailand’s Silachai, who finished third in the snatches. He narrowly jerked 167. Kasdan returned to open at the same weight and made it with confidence.
Snatch leader Fabin appeared at 167 but, shockingly, failed to secure the bar on his shoulders in the clean. He returned to make it with difficulty on his second attempt, securing his second gold medal.
Morris began one kilo higher; like Fabin, he missed as well. Commentators remarked that the lifting platform was uncharacteristically slippery, which may have compromised Irawan, who struggled to find footing in the split jerk.
Silachai was the first to clear the 300-kilogram mark in the Total with his 169-kilogram second attempt and pushed himself onto the podium by jerking 171 on his final attempt, finishing with 303 kilos.
Morris returned to right the wrong from his opener with a commanding 172-kilogram effort after pushing his bar forward on the platform. Kasdan made a large jump to 174 but failed on his second try — and his third, guaranteeing Morris a medal.
Morris took the final clean & jerk of the day at 178 kilos to move from bronze to silver and set a new Senior world record as well. He narrowly missed.
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2024 Olympics Weightlifting Schedule
Weightlifting events will be held at the 2024 Olympics from Aug. 7 to Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. Catch all the action live by referring to the full schedule below. All times are in Eastern Standard Time and are subject to change:
Wednesday, August 7
- 9:00 AM: Men’s 61KG
- 1:30 PM: Women’s 49KG
Thursday, August 8
- 9:00 AM: Women’s 59KG
- 1:30 PM: Men’s 73KG
Friday, August 9
- 9:00 AM: Men’s 89KG
- 1:30 PM: Women’s 71KG
Saturday, August 10
- 5:30 AM: Men’s 102KG
- 10:00 AM: Women’s 81KG
- 2:30 PM: Men’s +102KG
Sunday, August 11
- 5:30 AM: Women’s +81KG
