• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The BarBend Logo in white.

BarBend

The Online Home for Strength Sports

  • Strength
    • Best Home Gym Machines
      • Best Functional Trainers
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Budget Home Gym Equipment
      • Best Cable Machines
      • Best Weight Benches
      • Best Smith Machines
      • Best Smart Home Gyms
    • Best Barbells
      • Best Budget Exercise Bikes
      • Best Budget Barbells
      • Best Powerlifting Barbells
      • Best Barbells For Women
    • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Adjustable Kettlebells
    • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
    • More Strength Equipement
      • Best Resistance Bands
      • Best Weight Plates
      • Best Bumper Plates
      • Best Slam Balls
      • Best Weighted Vests
      • Best Weight Sleds
      • All Other Strength Equipment
    • Training
      • Exercise Guides
        • Deadlift
        • Bench Press
        • Back Squat
        • Overhead Press
        • Lat Pulldown
        • Shoulder Exercises
        • Chest Exercises
        • Ab Exercises
        • Quad Exercises
        • Biceps Exercises
      • Training Guides
        • Beginner’s Guide to the Gym
        • How to Build Muscle
        • Guide to Muscle Hypertrophy
        • How to Train on a Cut
      • Workouts
        • Back Workouts
        • At-Home Workouts
        • Chest & Back Workouts
        • Full-Body Workout
        • HIIT Workouts
        • Bodybuilding Workouts
        • Farmer’s Carry Workouts
      • Programs
        • 5×5 Program
        • Bodybuilding Programs
        • Push-Up Program
        • Pull-Up Program
        • 5/3/1 Program
        • Powerbuilding Program
        • German Volume Training
        • Build Your Own Program
    • News
      • CrossFit
      • Strongman
      • Bodybuilding
      • Powerlifting
      • Weightlifting
      • HYROX
    • Individual Strength Equipment Reviews
  • Nutrition
    • Best Pre-Workouts
      • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts
      • Best Pre-Workout for Women
      • Best Pre-Workouts for Men
      • Strongest Pre-Workouts
    • Best Protein
      • Best Protein Powder for Men
      • Best Whey Isolate Protein Powders
      • Best Protein Powder For Women
      • Best Tasting Protein Powders
      • Best Protein Bars
      • Protein by Goal
        • Best Mass Gainer
        • Best Protein Powder for Weight Loss
        • Best Protein Powder for Weight Gain
        • Best Protein Powder for Muscle Gain
      • Protein by Diet
        • Best Egg White Protein Powder
        • Best Keto Protein Powder
        • Best Organic Protein Powder
        • Best Vegan Protein Powders
    • Best Creatine
      • Best Creatine Gummies
      • Best Creatine For Women
      • Best Creatine for Men
    • Best BCAA’s
      • Best BCAA’s for Women
    • Best Fat Burners
      • Best Fat Burners For Women
      • Best Non-Stim Fat Burners
      • Best Fat Burners For Men
    • Other Nutrition Products
      • Best Meal Replacements
      • Best Nitric Oxide Supplements
      • Best Electrolyte Supplements
      • Best Greens Powder
        • Best Greens Powder for Pregnancy
      • Best Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Budget Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service
        • Best Healthy Meal Delivery Service
        • Best Meal Delivery Service for Weight Loss
        • Best Paleo Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Multivitamins for Women
        • Best Multivitamins for Men
        • Best Supplement Stacks
        • Best Multivitamins
    • Guides
      • Diets
        • Carb Cycling
        • Vertical Diet
        • Reverse Dieting
        • Carnivore Diet
        • Ketogenic Diet
        • Intermittent Fasting
        • IIFYM Diet
      • Muscle Gain
        • How to Dirty Bulk
        • Go From Cutting to Bulking
        • Eat These Carbs
        • How to Eat for Muscle
      • Fat Loss
        • Macros for Fat Loss
        • Calorie Deficits
        • Natural Fat Burners
        • Cut 2 Pounds Weekly
      • Supplement Guides
        • Pre-Workout
        • Whey Protein
        • Mass Gainers
        • Greens Powders
        • Creatine
        • BCAAs
      • Daily Protein Needs
      • Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition
      • Foods With Creatine
      • Bulking Tips
    • Individual Supplement Reviews
  • Conditioning
    • Best Treadmills
      • Best Manual Treadmills
      • Best Compact Treadmills
      • Best Budget Treadmills
      • Best Treadmills Under $2000
      • Best Treadmills Under $1000
      • Best Treadmills For Tall People
      • Best Commercial Treadmills
      • Best Curved Treadmills
      • Best Under Desk Treadmills
    • Best Rowing Machines
      • Best Water Rowing Machines
      • Best Budget Rowing Machines
      • Best Compact Rowing Machines
      • Best Foldable Rowing Machines
      • Best Air Rowing Machines
    • Best Exercise Bikes
      • Best Recumbent Bikes
      • Best Folding Exercise Bikes
      • Best Exercise Bikes For Seniors
      • Best Air Bikes
    • Best Ellipticals
      • Best Budget Ellipticals
      • Best Compact Ellipticals
      • Best Rear Driving Ellipticals
      • Best Ellipticals For Seniors
      • Best Under Desk Ellipticals
      • Best Ellipticals Under $1000
    • Other Conditioning Products
      • Best Jump Ropes
      • Best Plyometric Boxes
      • Best Speed Sleds
      • Best Agility Ladders
      • Best Vertical Climbers
      • Best Commercial Stair Climbers
      • Best Affordable Stair Climbers
    • Individual Cardio Equipment Reviews
  • Recovery
    • Best Cold Plunges
    • Best Saunas
      • Best Infrared Sauna
    • Best Massage Guns
      • Best Mini-Massage Guns
    • Best Compression Boots
    • Best Back Massagers
    • Best Massage Chairs
    • Other Recovery Tools
      • Best Inversion Tables
      • Best Vibrating Massage Rollers
      • Best Massage Balls
      • Best Ice Wraps
      • Best Foam Rollers
    • Recovery Guides
  • Fitness Accessories
    • Fitness Tech
      • Best Fitness Apps
        • Best Weightlifting Apps
        • Best Workout Programs
        • Best Cycling Apps
        • Best Treadmills Apps
        • Best Workout Streaming Services
        • Best Workout Apps
        • Best Running Apps
    • Best Bluetooth Earbuds
    • Best Digital Scales
      • Best Smart Scales
    • Best Fitness Trackers
      • Best Heart Rate Monitors
      • Best Pedometers
      • Best Stopwatches
    • Apparel
      • Best Running Shoes
      • Best Weightlifting Shoes
      • Best Cross Training Shoes
      • Best Gym Shorts
      • Best Sports Bras
      • Best Trail Running Shoes
    • Support Gear
      • Best Lifting Straps
      • Best Gym Bags
      • Best Lifting Gloves
      • Best Wrist Wraps
      • Best Lifting Chalk
      • Best Dip Belts
      • Best Pull Up Assist Bands
      • Best Lifting Belts
  • Community Forum
Home » Weightlifting News » Historic Upset: Rizki Juniansyah (73KG) Sets World Record Total, Steals Olympic Slot From Teammate Rahmat Erwin Abdullah

Historic Upset: Rizki Juniansyah (73KG) Sets World Record Total, Steals Olympic Slot From Teammate Rahmat Erwin Abdullah

Written by Jake Dickson, NASM-CPT, USAW-L2
Last updated on April 29th, 2025

Prior to the commencement of the 2024 IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, rumors swirled about the gravity of the event. Lead event commentator Seb Ostrowicz called this year’s Cup “the biggest weightlifting meet of the last few years,” citing it as the final qualification opportunity for any Paris hopeful.

On Apr. 4, 2024, Ostrowicz’s prophecy came to pass. In a historic upset, Indonesian weightlifter and Junior world record holder Rizki Juniansyah set a new world record in the Total of 365 kilograms — dislodging teammate and 18-month leader Rahmat Erwin Abdullah at the last second.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by All Things Gym (@atginsta)

[Related: Best Weightlifting Belts]

It’s impossible to overstate the enormity of Juniansyah’s achievement in Phuket. Having only returned to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) stage in late 2023 after undergoing appendix surgery, Juniansyah was considered a long shot pick for the top of the podium at the Cup.

But when the dust had settled, he had beaten both teammate (and clean & jerk world record holder) Abdullah as well as two-time Olympic Champion Shi Zhiyong.

Rizki Juniansyah | 2024 IWF World Cup

  • Snatch: 155, 164, 164
  • Clean & Jerk: 192, 201, 203
  • Total: 365 | World Record

How It Happened

Since the IWF unveiled the Paris-recognized bodyweight divisions for the 2024 Olympics, the Men’s 73-kilogram middleweight category has been a hotbed of world-class performers.

For the better part of the 18-month Paris qualification period, no athlete could contend Abdullah, who repeatedly widened his lead over every other athlete in the class, setting multiple world records in the 73 and 81-kilogram divisions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzKSRAtQLiw

Teammate Juniansyah underwent surgery towards the end of 2023. Prior to this year’s Cup, his best Total was 353KG — 10 full kilograms behind Abdullah.

But when push came to shove in Phuket, Juniansyah pulled it off against both his countryman and one of China’s most dominant weightlifters ever:

2024 IWF World Cup | Men’s 73-Kilogram

  • Rizki Juniansyah (INA): 365 (164/201)
  • Shi Zhiyong (CHN): 356 (165/191)
  • Rahmat Erwin Abdullah (INA): 355 (160/195)

Editor’s Note: The notation above reads as “[Total] [(Snatch/Clean & Jerk)]”

Speculation was rife in Phuket about the capabilities of Zhiyong, who took a long hiatus from the sport after his win in the same category at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. After placing first in the snatch, it looked like Zhiyong was back in top form.

But come the clean & jerks, the now-former world record holder in the Total couldn’t muster the strength he needed to claim the number-one slot in the 73-kilogram category. However, Zhiyong now sits in third place. Pending the outcome of the heavier divisions in Phuket, Zhiyong may receive an invitation to Paris.

Context: Each country may only send one athlete per weight class to the Paris Olympics, and only six athletes in total (three men and three women). Dominant countries like China must evaluate which of their team members perform best in their respective weight divisions.

Zhiyong, now third in the 73-kilogram class, will await to see what occurs in the 89 and 102-kilogram divisions at the Cup.

As the competition concluded, Abdullah was forced to attempt 206 kilograms — a new world record — to reclaim the top slot from Juniansyah. He failed it on his second attempt, sat down on the platform for less than a minute, and tried again with 90 seconds of allotted rest time to spare. He was unsuccessful.

Abdullah spent almost two years in the driver’s seat. When he and Juniansyah last met at the 2024 Asian Championships, Abdullah came out 10 kilograms ahead. At the final stop before the Paris Olympics, Juniansyah returned the favor, in one of the most stunning upsets in modern weightlifting history.

Rahmat Erwin Abdullah collapses on the platform at the 2024 IWF World Cup.
Credit: Jessie Johnson / @barbellstories

[Related: Why Weightlifting Sucks to Watch in 2024]

More From the IWF World Cup

  • Hampton Morris Sets First USA Senior Men’s World Record in Over 50 Years
  • Won Hyon Sim Sets Triple World Records at 2024 IWF World Cup
  • Hou Zhihui (49KG) Sets 97KG Snatch World Record at 2024 IWF World Cup

Featured Image: Jessie Johnson / @barbellstories

About Jake Dickson, NASM-CPT, USAW-L2

Jake is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a B.S. in Exercise Science. He began his career as a weightlifting coach before transitioning into sports media to pursue his interest in journalism.

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Latest Reviews

Featured image for the Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2 Review

Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2 Review (2025): Our Expert’s New Favorite FID Bench

Titan T3 Power Rack Review

Titan T3 Power Rack Review (2025): An Expert-Approved Rig Beckoning to Budget-Minded Athletes

Our tester works out at the beach in preparation for the Rogue Resistance Bands Review

Rogue Resistance Bands Review (2025): Tested by a Certified Personal Trainer

Barbend tester Jake Herod works out on a Force USA Trainer

Force USA G3 Review (2025): Our Experts Tested This Compact All-In-One Rack for Small Home Gyms

BarBend

BarBend is an independent website. The views expressed on this site may come from individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of BarBend or any other organization. BarBend is the Official Media Partner of USA Weightlifting.

  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Sections

  • CrossFit
  • Strongman
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Weightlifting
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Training

More

  • BarBend Newsletter
  • BarBend Podcast
  • The Ripped Report
  • 1RM Calculator
  • BMR Calculator
  • Macros Calculator
  • Protein Calculator
  • Squat Calculator

Policies

  • Accessibility
  • Advice Disclaimer
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimers
  • Disclosures
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2025 · BarBend Inc · Sitemap