Want to catch up on everything that happened during weightlifting at the Olympics? We’ve got you covered. The Paris Games showcased the world’s best weightlifters between Aug. 7 and 11.
Over the course of five days, we saw records set and broken, dreams achieved and, in some cases, shattered, and everything in-between.
BarBend covered it all and we’re compiling all the results, recaps, top moments, and best stories from the 2024 Olympics in one place.
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2024 Olympics, Day by Day
Below, you’ll find every story BarBend produced during our coverage of weightlifting at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, from results to records and the human stories beating at the heart of the South Paris Arena.
Day 1: Men’s 61KG, Women’s 49KG
In addition to the two lightest weight categories, Day 1 of weightlifting at the 2024 Olympics on Aug. 7 kicked off with a bang. Some of the top moments included:
- Weightlifters Slip, Injure, Lose Medals in Men’s 61KG
- Hou Zhihui Sets Olympic Record in Women’s 49KG
- Hampton Morris Wins First Men’s Medal for Team USA in 40 Years
[Feature: Is Mihaela Cambei the World’s Next Weightlifting Superstar?]
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Day 2: Women’s 59KG, Men’s 73KG
The second day of weightlifting in Paris on Aug. 8 arguably outdid the first. We saw a spectacularly competitive event from the 59-kilogram women, and both tragedy and triumph in the Men’s 73-kilogram middleweight.
- Records Pile Up During Women’s 59KG Weightlifting Event
- Rizki Juniansyah Sets Olympic Records to Win 73KG Gold Medal
- Tragedy Strikes Shi Zhiyong at 2024 Olympics
[Feature: Maude Charron Chugged Maple Syrup to Win Medal at 2024 Olympics]
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Day 3: Men’s 89KG, Women’s 71KG
On Day 3, history was made in both divisions; the highly-anticipated Men’s 89KG and the crackling Women’s 71s both had record-shattering performances from their gold medalists on Aug. 9.
- Karlos Nasar Breaks World Records to Win 2024 Olympics
- Olivia Reeves Wins First Weightlifting Gold for Team USA in 24 Years
- 5 Weightlifters Injured During Men’s 89KG Event
[Feature: Antonino Pizzolato Wins Controversial Bronze Medal at 2024 Olympics]
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Day 4: Men’s 102KG, Women’s 81KG, Men’s +102KG
Aug. 10 was a marathon of weightlifting. The South Paris Arena showcased three events beginning in the early hours of the morning (for viewers in the United States) and closed out in the evening with a historic performance from Georgian titan Lasha Talakhadze.
- Liu Huanhua Wins His First Gold Medal for Team China
- Greatest Ever: Lasha Talakhadze Wins Third Olympic Gold Medal
- Solfrid Koanda Goes From Electrician to Olympic Champion in 3 Years
- Weightlifting Rule Leaves Super-Heavy Athletes Breathless
[Feature: Lasha Talakhadze Speaks on Retirement After 3X Olympic Golds]
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Day 5: Women’s +81KG
On the morning of Aug. 11, weightlifting at the Olympics wrapped up with the super-heavy women in the +81KG category, which included a second Olympic victory for Team China’s powerhouse athlete Li Wenwen.
What’s Next for Weightlifting?
The Paris Olympics (and all the top moments) may have been the biggest weightlifting event of the year, but the best Olympic lifters in the world aren’t done with the barbell just yet.
From now through December, fans of weightlifting can turn their gaze toward:
- 2024 Junior World Weightlifting Championships: Sep. 19 – 27
- 2024 World Weightlifting Championships: Dec. 6 – 15
For a full breakdown of every event still to come in 2024, refer to the International Weightlifting Federation’s official event calendar here.
The Olympics Are Over, But…
- 2024 Giants Live World Open Events & Roster Revealed
- Why Chris Bumstead Can’t Build More Muscle for the 2024 Olympia
- 2024 North American Powerlifting Championships Results
Featured Image: International Weightlifting Federation / @iwfnet
