Strongest Weightlifters on Earth

[RebelAzn]

Despite all the hype from ESPN and those World's strongest man contest, these are truly the real strongest men and women on earth. I believe China enter maximum of 4 categories in both men and women in weightlifting and won all 8 gold.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/weightlifting/news/newsid=218334.html#lu%20wins%20chinas%20eighth%20w eightlifting%20gold



Lu wins China's eighth weightlifting gold
By the Associated Press
Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 6:03 AM ET
Andrei Rybakou celebrates after his world record total and apparent victory, but his euphoria was short-lived.
Getty Images
Andrei Rybakou celebrates after his world record total and apparent victory, but his euphoria was short-lived.

BEIJING (AP)-Lu Yong won China's eighth weightlifting gold medal at the Beijing Games on Friday, tying the world record set moments earlier by the silver medalist but grabbing the title because of a lower body weight.

The electrifying duel between Lu and double world champion Andrei Rybakou of Belarus lasted until the very last lifts of the men's 85-kilogram competition.

Rybakou thought he had won when he set a world record total of 394 kg (868.6 pounds), but Lu equaled the score with his final lift.

Tigran Martirosyan of Armenia totaled 380 kg (837.8 pounds) to take the bronze.

Lu's gold capped China's near-perfect record in the weightlifting competition, with eight gold and one silver medal. The host nation has no competitors in the four remaining categories.

Lu had to fight hard for his medal. Trailing Rybakou by 5 kilograms (11 pounds) after the snatch, he pushed himself to close the gap in the second event, the clean and jerk.
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China's Lu Yong rallied to take gold in the men's 85kg weightlifting final.

Lu's chances looked dim when Rybakou hoisted 209 kg (460.8 pounds) in his final lift, pushing his combined score beyond the old world record by 1 kg (2.2 pounds). Rybakou shouted and threw his fists in the air in celebration.

But the Chinese strongman confidently asked for 214 kg (471.8 pounds) to level the score, knowing he would win the title because he weighed in lower than Rybakou.

His first attempt was cleared by the judges, setting off loud cheers in the crowd, but was ruled invalid a minute later by the jury.

Lu recomposed himself to repeat the lift in his final attempt, and this time even the jury gave thumbs up.

"After the jury reversed my second attempt in the clean and jerk my mind-set was definitely affected," Lu said. "But the judgment was made and I couldn't change it. I could only use my third attempt to convince everybody."

Rybakou acknowledged he was stunned by Lu's performance.

"I knew that the Chinese athletes are strong but I didn't expect that they're that strong," he said, laughing.

Earlier Friday, Cao Lei broke three Olympic records to win the women's 75-kilogram division and clinch China's seventh gold.


On another note, South Korean Jang crushed world record in the super heavy weight lifting by winning gold. She is lucky the Chinese girl was not allowed to enter due to maximum of 4 categories out of 7 for each country, otherwise she might have a challenge.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/weightlifting/news/newsid=223178.html#jang+breaks+three+world+records +route+gold

[jaehwan]

Awesome post, Rebs.

By the way, I like this quote from the second article:

Jang was so superior in the women's heaviest division that second-place Olha Korobka of Ukraine skipped her final lift, knowing she wasn't going to do better than silver.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/weightlifting/news/newsid=223178.html#jang+breaks+three+world+records +route+gold

Now that's dominating your sport!

[RebelAzn]

Awesome post, Rebs.

By the way, I like this quote from the second article:



http://www.nbcolympics.com/weightlifting/news/newsid=223178.html#jang+breaks+three+world+records +route+gold

Now that's dominating your sport!

Yeah she looks scary but damn strong. She was expecting strongest competition from another super heavy weight Chinese girl but she was not there due to the fact each country can only enter 4 weight class and China has stronger lifters in other 4 women classes. I don't get the stupid limitation on 4 out 7 but a rule is a rule.

Here is the South Korean lifter. I am scared of her personally. Also, one of other medal winner below said her favorite past time is dancing :)

http://www.nbcolympics.com/mm/photo/sports/general/22/32/39/223239_m03.jpg

[jaehwan]

Yeah she looks scary but damn strong. She was expecting strongest competition from another super heavy weight Chinese girl but she was not there due to the fact each country can only enter 4 weight class and China has stronger lifters in other 4 women classes. I don't get the stupid limitation on 4 out 7 but a rule is a rule.

Here is the South Korean lifter. I am scared of her personally. Also, one of other medal winner below said her favorite past time is dancing :)

http://www.nbcolympics.com/mm/photo/sports/general/22/32/39/223239_m03.jpg

That girl on the left was the one who skipped her lift. She looks much bigger than Jang. Not only does Jang dominate her sport, she does so fearlessly.

[ellencho]

Despite all the hype from ESPN and those World's strongest man contest, these are truly the real strongest men and women on earth. I believe China enter maximum of 4 categories in both men and women in weightlifting and won all 8 gold.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/weightlifting/news/newsid=218334.html#lu%20wins%20chinas%20eighth%20w eightlifting%20gold





On another note, South Korean Jang crushed world record in the super heavy weight lifting by winning gold. She is lucky the Chinese girl was not allowed to enter due to maximum of 4 categories out of 7 for each country, otherwise she might have a challenge.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/weightlifting/news/newsid=223178.html#jang+breaks+three+world+records +route+gold
Isn't Jang in a different weight class than Cao? I totally have a girl crush on Cao and everything, but even though they both broke WRs I'm pretty sure Jang lifted more so I don't see how Cao would have challenged Jang.

[RebelAzn]

Isn't Jang in a different weight class than Cao? I totally have a girl crush on Cao and everything, but even though they both broke WRs I'm pretty sure Jang lifted more so I don't see how Cao would have challenged Jang.

Below is Jang's comments in the article I posted above:

A slight disappointment for Jang was that her biggest rival was missing: previous world record-holder and 2004 Olympic champion Mu Shuangshuang of China. With a limit of four women competitors in Olympic weightlifting, the medal-hungry host nation prioritized other weight categories where they had a better chance of winning. The strategy worked as China won all four of the women's categories.

"I thought (Mu) would attend these games so I was very surprised to not see her name in the start list," Jang said. "If I have the opportunity to compete with her in the next Olympics I will definitely feel less lonely."

I believe they are both in the super heavy weight so I am not sure there is a limit. By the picture below, Mu obviously have beat Jang before in competitions.

Here is a picture of Mu Shuang. I won't mess with her either. She looks pretty powerful.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/03DneZd4aUeT1/610x.jpg

http://images.beijing2008.cn/20070927/Img214167073.jpg

[ellencho]

Gotcha, I thought you were talking about Cao. Mu is a BEAST! Ladies like that remind you that next time you see a big girl, she's big because she can crush you, not because she's she's out of shape.

[THX1138]

Below is Jang's comments in the article I posted above:

I believe they are both in the super heavy weight so I am not sure there is a limit. By the picture below, Mu obviously have beat Jang before in competitions.

Here is a picture of Mu Shuang. I won't mess with her either. She looks pretty powerful.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/03DneZd4aUeT1/610x.jpg


It's funny that they give the medal winners stuffed goats/rams wearing what seem to be sandals in this Doha 2006 picture.

What's up with that?

[jaehwan]

Gotcha, I thought you were talking about Cao. Mu is a BEAST! Ladies like that remind you that next time you see a big girl, she's big because she can crush you, not because she's she's out of shape.

:)

It's funny because Sumo wrestlers look huge, and when Westerners see it, they think, "Wow, that guy is fat." When I see it, I think, "Wow, that guy could swat me like a fly." Same thing with these awesome ladies! I think it's excellent that they're training hard and lifting these heavy weights.

Speaking of body types, I saw this awesome show on one of the science channels a while back that talked about the difference in the fat between a sumo wrestler and a couch potato. According the the program, other than possible joint structure problems from being heavy (which all large athletes can suffer), sumo guys really don't suffer all that much from health problems because their fat is distributed differently, and plus they train all day. They're actually not unhealthy at all.

So speaking of image, there's more than one way to be healthy and strong!

[RebelAzn]

Just for the record, below is an article on Mu.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-05/28/content_6717450.htm

Mu lifted 328 Kg at China championship vs. Jang's 326 Kg that broke world record and Olympic record for the gold. Mu definitely would have gave Jang all she can handle. For people that don't know metric, she lifted about 405 lbs over her head. It was too bad China was limited to only 4 categories out of 7. Why? I have no idea cause they would have dominated. If they let swimmers swim 100, 200, 400, 800 plus a zillion relays and everything else, why not weight lifters?

Mu: I can win gold so long as I go to Olympics



CHANGCHUN -- "If I can go to the Beijing Olympics, I will definitely beat Jang Mi Ran and win the gold," said Mu Shuangshuang, a Chinese weightlifter and also a world record holder in the women's above 75kg division on Monday. However, she is still waiting to be qualified to participate in the Olympics.

"The final list will be fixed in July, and I do hope I will be included. Given the chance, I will be the champion with the world focusing on my victory," she said during a phone interview Monday evening. She is currently training with the national weightlifting team in Tianjin.

The 24-year-old weightlifter, born in Jilin, enters the national weightlifting team after the 2004 Athens Olympics. She gradually becomes world-famous during the following four years by successively winning snatch world titles in the last three years.

Her strongest opponent is the DPR Korean weightlifter Jang Mi Ran. At every world championships from 2005 to 2007, Jang and Mu got the same score at jerk and total, but Mu lost all three titles as she weighed heavier.

Though Mu lost to Jang for most of the times at world-level competitions, she seemed to be saving the best for the Olympics.

"Mu Shuangshuang is definitely in a better condition, while Jang doesn't have a steady performance," said Han Dongshen, vice director of Jilin Weight Sports Administration Center.

According to Han, Mu snatched 145 kg, jerked 183 kg to win the title with a total of 328 kg at China's National Weightlifting Championships in April, nine kilograms more than the world record held by herself. Meanwhile, Jang Mei Ran snatched 135 kg, jerked 183 kg and totaled 318 kg in the Olympic qualification tournament in DPR Korea.

"There's a distinct between the two athletes," said Han.

The Chinese women weightlifting team is seen as the "dream team " in the world weightlifting field. To give more chances to other weightlifting teams, the International Weightlifting Federation allows each team to participate in only four categories out of seven, which means Mu still has to compete athletes of other categories for going to Olympics.

"Compared with the champions at the Athens Olympics, Mu Shuangshuang has already exceeded Tang Gonghong, the 2004 Olympic gold winner, 23 kg in total score. Her total score is nine kilograms more than the world record, in addition, she still has five kilograms more to advance," said Zhang Yuhai, Mu's coach at the provincial team of Jilin.

"I've been making steady progress ever since 2005, and I believe in my dashing spirit. Now I'm peacefully waiting for the final call for the Beijing Olympics," Mu said with a gentle tone.

[kimtae]

FYI, Korea took the gold in the men's 77Kg category over the Chinese favorite.
As for Sumo wrestlers being healthy, well, few of them make it past 50 so I doubt that.

[ellencho]

I don't see how asians wouldn't dominate weightlifting - we all sit around doing the asian squat all day long. Of course we'll have strong hips and knees.

[RebelAzn]

FYI, Korea took the gold in the men's 77Kg category over the Chinese favorite.
As for Sumo wrestlers being healthy, well, few of them make it past 50 so I doubt that.

You are right. I guess China got the silver in the 77 kg class. Considering they entered 9 categories and got 8 gold and 1 silver, I say it is still total domination. The Korean lifter lifted same weight as the Chinese one except Korean lifter had a lower body weight. Congrats to all the Chinese and Korean lifters that won gold. Below is the story.

South Korea's Sa Jae-hyouk wins weightlifting gold

5 days ago

BEIJING (AP) — Sa Jae-hyouk of South Korea stopped China's gold rush in weightlifting by edging out home crowd favorite Li Hongli to win the men's 77-kilogram division.

Sa and Li both lifted a total of 366 kg (806.9 pounds), but Sa got the win because of a lower body weight. Armenia's Gevorg Davtyan took the bronze, totaling 360 kg (793.7 pounds) in the two events.

China had previously won all six of the weight categories in which it had participated.

Sa was 3 kg (6.6 pounds) behind Li after lifting 163 kg (359.4 pounds) in the snatch, but stunned the Chinese crowd by heaving 203 kg (447.5 pounds) in his second clean and jerk.

It was South Korea's first gold in the weightlifting competition.



I don't see how asians wouldn't dominate weightlifting - we all sit around doing the asian squat all day long. Of course we'll have strong hips and knees.

Ellen - That's funny. However, weightlifting takes a ton of work just any other sports. We got to give props to those ultra strong athletes to be strongest men and women on earth.

[nottyboy]

Despite all the hype from ESPN and those World's strongest man contest, these are truly the real strongest men and women on earth. I believe China enter maximum of 4 categories in both men and women in weightlifting and won all 8 gold.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/weightlifting/news/newsid=218334.html#lu%20wins%20chinas%20eighth%20w eightlifting%20gold


I've heard that pound for pound, gymnasts are the strongest. Then again, I've only heard gymnasts or their coaches claim this, so I don't know. This article claims that one gymnast was able to deadlift 400lbs with no prior weightlifting training:


http://www.dragondoor.com/articler/mode3/229/
One of my former students, JJ Gregory (1993 Junior National Champion on the Still Rings) developed such a high degree of strength from my bodyweight conditioning program that on his first day in his high school weightlifting class he deadlifted 400lbs., and this at the scale breaking weight of 135 lbs. and a height of 5’3”.

[RebelAzn]

I've heard that pound for pound, gymnasts are the strongest. Then again, I've only heard gymnasts or their coaches claim this, so I don't know. This article claims that one gymnast was able to deadlift 400lbs with no prior weightlifting training:

I don't think so. Gymnasts are extremely extremely strong. That Chinese gymnast who did the ring is just sick in strength. However, if they are really that strong, they would be in weightlifting contest and they are not. Weightlifting involves a lot of techniques and pure strength. It takes a ton of practices. I was way stronger than most normal men during my peak, but these guys are just in another class.

[awong]

maybe its like how you see many cheerleaders who do weightlifting at the high school level and have a degree of sucess

[Liang]

Despite all the hype from ESPN and those World's strongest man contest, these are truly the real strongest men and women on earth.




I wouldn't discount the Met-RX Strongest Man competitions though. Those guys do some crazy shit too.



But yeah, the Chinese men and women KILLED the competition. Every single one of them went home with gold except for one (and he won a silver). Absolutely insane.