On August 16, 2021, a video appeared on Instagram from Iranian weightlifter Mir Mostafa Javadi. In the video, the 21-year-old is seen lifting an unofficial world record in the clean & jerk. Javadi, who competes at both 73 & 81 kilograms, lifted 208 kilograms (458.5 pounds) in his training hall — one kilogram more than the current record held by none other than 81-kilogram Olympic Champion Lu Xiaojun.
While this is far from the first time Team Iran has displayed serious strength in the gym, Javadi is somewhat of an unknown. His Instagram page, however, is a trove of jaw-dropping lifts, including a 260-kilogram (572-pound) back squat and a 147-kilogram (323.4-pound) snatch.
You can check out the 208-kilogram lift in full below, where Javadi showcases what it takes to put a world-record lift overhead.
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While some weightlifters are notorious for making record-book lifts look effortless, Javadi served up a reminder of the amount of determination it takes to hang with the best in the world. To come to almost a complete standstill in his clean recovery and still find the strength to make the jerk is almost as impressive as the weight itself.
Mir Mostafa Javadi’s Weightlifting Career
Although Javadi may have flown under the radar for some fans of weightlifting, this unofficial world record is but the latest in a series of strong performances for the 21-year-old. When he was 18, Javadi participated in the 2019 Asian Weightlifting Championships as an 81-kilogram lifter, where he set a Junior Iranian record for snatching 154 kilograms (339 pounds) and placed sixth overall.
He improved his standing by one placing in the same competition in 2021 as a 73-kilogram lifter, even winning a snatch medal for placing third behind Chinese powerhouse Yuan Chengfei and current Olympic Champion Shi Zhiyong.
Mir Mostafa Javadi International Appearances
- 2019 Asian Weightlifting Championships: Sixth (Men’s 81-kilogram)
- 2021 Asian Weightlifting Championships: Fifth, Bronze in Snatch (Men’s 73-kilogram)
Rising Stars in Weightlifting
While it is possible that Javadi may be the latest and greatest weightlifter out of a country known for record-setting performers like Sohrab Moradi (96KG), Behdad Salimi (105KG*), and Hossein Rezazadeh (+105KG*), it is certain that he is part of a cohort of rising stars in the sport.
Several young lifters have shocked the world of weightlifting with unbelievable results in international competition over the last few years, some of which were achieved at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games:
- Kate Nye (22, United States), 2020 Olympic Games: Second
- Akbar Djuraev (21, Uzbekistan), 2020 Olympic Games: First
- Clarence Cummings Jr. (21, United States), 2019 Junior World Championships: First
- Windy Cantika Aisah (19, Indonesia), 2020 Olympic Games: Third
- Karlos Nasar (17, Bulgaria), 2021 European Championships: Second
Looking Forward
Whether in the 73- or 81-kilogram category, if Javadi attends the 2022 World Weightlifting Championships in Chongqing, China, he’ll have his work cut out for him if he wants the lion’s share of the limelight. That said, to unofficially overtake a world record held by Team China’s Lu Xiaojun, one of the most decorated weightlifters of all time, is a good omen for the young lifter.
*These weight classes are no longer recognized since the IWF restructured the bodyweight categories in 2018.
Featured Image: @mostafa_javadii on Instagram
