The hype rises in the Men’s 89-kilogram category of weightlifting. On Saturday, Apr. 6, at the 2024 IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, that excitement reached its zenith — at least, up until the Paris Olympics kick off this August.
At the Cup, the last-chance qualifier event for Paris, Bulgaria’s Karlos Nasar was poised to win the snatch portion, but Colombia’s Jeison Lopez rose to challenge him. On their final attempts, both men set new 89-kilogram world records in the snatch: 181 and then 182 kilograms, or 399 and 401.2 pounds.
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Here’s a breakdown of both athletes’ performances in the snatch at the 2024 IWF World Cup:
Karlos Nasar (BUL) | 2024 IWF World Cup Snatches
- 170, 176, 181 | World Record*
Jeison Lopez (COL) | 2024 IWF World Cup Snatches
- 175, 181x, 182 | World Record
Prior to the commencement of the event, the world record in the 89-kilogram division stood at 180 kilograms, or 396.8 pounds.
That lift belonged to China’s Li Dayin, who also competed in this session. Dayin went one-for-three, and was credited only with his successful opener of 173 kilograms.
*Editor’s Note: In order for a world record to be ratified, it must stand unbroken for a period of 24 hours. Nasar’s 181-kilogram snatch will not officially be considered a Senior world record, but is a new Junior world record.
Men’s 89KG: The Most Competitive Class?
Since the Paris 2024 weight classes were unveiled in 2022, the Men’s 89-kilogram division has rapidly become, debatably, the most exciting overall division of Men’s weightlifting in the world. The conductor of that two-year hype train has largely been 19-year-old Nasar, who habitually advances both Junior and Senior world records.
However, the competition for the top of the International Weightlifting Federation’s (IWF) ranking leaderboards is as stiff as it gets. The following athletes are all Paris-eligible, barring selection from their home countries, and can give Nasar a run for his money:
- Jeison Lopez (COL)
- Li Dayin (CHN)
- Keydomar Vallenilla-Sanchez (VEN)
- Antonino Pizzolato (ITA)
- Tian Tao (CHN)
Fans of weightlifting are likely to see Nasar, Lopez, and one of these other athletes adorn the Olympic podium in Paris. Nasar is widely considered the favorite, but anything can happen in weightlifting.
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Featured Image: Jessie Johnson / @wjohnson
