Few weightlifters run their category like China’s Li Fabin. The 2020 Olympic Champion holds all three world records in the 61-kilogram division and, on Apr. 2, 2024, Fabin strengthened his claim when he set a 146-kilogram (321.8-pound) snatch world record.
The 2024 IWF World Cup, which runs in Phuket, Thailand from Mar. 31 to Apr. 11, was Fabin’s last chance to close out the Paris qualification procedure on a high note. Check it out:
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Li Fabin | 2024 IWF World Cup
Fabin handily won the 2024 IWF World Cup and confirmed his status as the most dominant 61-kilogram weightlifter in the world. Here’s a breakdown of his performance:
- Snatch: 138, 143, 146 | World Record
- Clean & Jerk: 166, 173x, 173x
- Total: 312
He may have won the event, but Fabin didn’t walk away with gold medals across the board. He placed first in the snatch but fifth in the clean & jerks. The gold medal there went to the USA’s Hampton Morris, who made American weightlifting history with a 176-kilogram clean & jerk — the States’ first in over half a century.
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Defending the Throne
Fabin has sat uncontested atop the 61-kilogram ranking leaderboards within the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) since he Totaled 314 kilograms at the 2023 Asian Weightlifting Championships.
Behind Fabin are a number of athletes vying to maintain their position in the top 10 (a requirement for Paris invitation). Prior to the Cup, Italy’s Sergio Massidda held the second-place position with 302; that slot now belongs to Morris, who logged a 303-kilogram result in Phuket.
But the real challenge to Fabin’s position was, supposedly, to come from teammate, five-time World Champion, and fellow Olympic Champion (2020, 67KG) Chen Lijun. Lijun cut down from 67 kilograms to contend for Fabin’s slot in the 61s.
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Lijun had only one shot and needed to Total more than 314, Fabin’s best, in order to “steal” that category slot. China, like all countries, may only send three male weightlifters to Paris, and only one per weight class. Lijun failed all three of his snatch attempts in Phuket.
As a consequence, Fabin is going to Paris and, based on his performance here, is likely to win his second Olympic gold.
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Featured Image: @iwfnet on Instagram
