Earlier this year, in April, Chinese weightlifter Shi Zhiyong repeatedly collapsed during a routine preparatory workout ahead of the IWF World Cup. Four months later on Aug. 8 during the 2024 Olympics, the two-time Olympic Champion very narrowly missed a third gold medal.
Since his commanding victory in Tokyo three years prior, China’s viciously-talented 73-kilogram’er has battled a series of ailments, including a back injury that has left him in near-constant pain since 2021.
- “My injury is severe. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve gone to the hospital,” Shi told Chinese media shortly after competing. “The Olympics was the only reason that kept me going.”
[Get Caught Up: 2024 Olympics Weightlifting Results + Schedule]
Yet Shi was selected as one of the six weightlifters on Team China in Paris; the only country to field a full roster at this Games.
- No other nation sent six eligible weightlifters to Paris, the maximum number permitted by the International Olympic Committee.
Despite having two Olympic titles to his name (2016, 2020) it was far from certain if Shi could deliver another medal-winning performance. China bet on him after he strung together a strong series of lifts at the last-chance qualifying Cup. Halfway through the 73-kilogram event, it appeared that Team China’s gamble was paying off.
Shi Zhiyong 2024 Olympics
Shi told BarBend during the World Cup that he lifted as though it were “the last international event of my career.” It might’ve been, but he was plucked to perform against Indonesia’s powerhouse and presumptive gold medalist Rizki Juniansyah.
When the two met on stage for the snatches, Juniansyah floundered while Shi flew. Come the intermission, China was ahead by 10; 165 kilograms to Indonesia’s 155.
Men’s 73-Kilogram | Snatch
- Shi Zhiyong (CHN): 161, 165, 168x
- Rizki Juniansyah (INA): 155x, 155, 162x
It appeared as though Shi had found his footing and made a true return to form after his long hiatus from the lifting platform. But during the clean & jerks, things went sideways — fast.
[See It All: Men’s 73KG Weightlifting Results & Recap]
Men’s 73-Kilogram | Clean & Jerk
- Shi Zhiyong (CHN): 191x, 191x, 191x
- Rizki Juniansyah (INA): 191, 199
Historically, Shi had performed well with the high-risk, high-reward squat jerk. He’d made 67% of his clean & jerks on the Olympic stage prior to Paris, and had a double-digit lead on Juniansyah, who wasn’t displaying the same level of conviction he showed at the World Cup.
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But when push came to shove, Shi fumbled the bag, missing 191 kilograms thrice in a row — seven kilograms below his existing Olympic record, which Juniansyah swept away by jerking 199 kilograms to win the gold medal. Having failed to post a Total, Shi was ranked last.
- “I’m sorry for the Chinese weightlifting team. Everyone trusts me and has provided the best support,” Shi said. “I feel like I’ve failed.”
Trivia: Shi made his official comeback to international weightlifting in the tail end of 2023. He suffered his first defeat, ever, at the IWF Grand Prix II to a Latvian weightlifter named Ritvars Suharevs.
They met again in Paris, where Surharevs withdrew early on due to a shoulder injury. Prior to the Prix, Shi had been out of commission for over 800 days.
Will Shi Zhiyong Retire From Weightlifting?
Since his win in Rio de Janeiro eight years ago, Shi has become a fan-favorite athlete in the world of weightlifting. He’s known for his incredible strength and power, as well as maintaining an unblemished international record for 11 years (2012 – 2023).
But his calling card is the signature howl he lets out every time he breaks a barbell off the ground and sends it soaring overhead.
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Despite being the only member of Team China’s weightlifting roster in Paris to not walk away with a medal, Shi closed out his Olympic story in good spirits. On Aug. 11, he shared a post on social media together with Juniansyah, saying (loosely translated):
- “New replaces old. May weightlifting continue to get better.”
Shi may elect to hang up his lifting belt after his abrupt defeat in Paris. He’s an avid fisherman and has won more weightlifting medals for his country than most.
- “I want to give myself a break,” Shi said. “I hope in the next stage of my life, I can spend more time with my family.”
More Weightlifting at the 2024 Olympics
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Featured Image: Weightlifting House / YouTube
