Tokyo Olympics: record-breaker Hou Zhihui wins China’s second gold of Games in weightlifting
- The 24-year-old sets new 49kg marks in the snatch, clean and jerk, and overall total
- Indonesia’s Windy Aisah takes bronze after setting new personal best in clean and jerk
Competing in the 49kg class, the 24-year-old held off the challenge of Mirabai Chanu, who failed to register a total in Rio de Janeiro five years ago but was one of India’s strongest hopes for a medal this time around.
Hou set a new Olympic record in the snatch, twice, first lifting 92kg with her second attempt, and then bettering it with 94kg with her final one. In the clean and jerk, her final lift of 116kg was a new Games best, as was her overall total of 210kg.
Her first gold medal helped finally dispel the disappointment of 2016, when a knee injury forced her to miss the Rio Olympics.
“I felt very happy when I finally made it,” Hou said. “In one second all the stress disappeared. I prepared for five years so it means a lot to me.”
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Inside the Tokyo 2020 Olympics opening ceremony
Mirabai pushed her rival all the way, going almost toe-to-toe in the clean and jerk, but it was the 7kg she gave away in the snatch that finally made the difference. Her 87kg and 115kg left her with a total of 202kg for the silver medal.