(30 July 1996; Day 11)
As the competitors filed into the Georgia World Congress Center Tuesday for the over-108kg class of weightlifting at the Centennial Olympic Games, the question wasn't so much whether a world record would be set, but who in the stellar field would set it.
The 13 lifters in Group A together had accounted for four Olympic gold medals, 29 world championship gold medals and 42 world records.
This day belonged to Andrey CHEMERKIN of the Russian Federation and Germany's Ronny WELLAR. First WELLER and, moments later CHEMERKIN set new world records in the clean and jerk. CHEMERKIN's 457.5kg total also tied the world record. Making it even more satisfying was the fact the old record belonged to CHEMERKIN's rival, two-time Olympic gold medalist and pre-meet favorite Aleksandr KURLOVICH. While KURLOVICH faded to seventh place with a sub-par showing in the clean and jerk, CHEMERKIN -- the reigning world champion competing in his first Olympics -- took home the gold medal and WELLER the silver. WELLER had won a gold in Barcelona in 1992 and a bronze in Seoul in 1988 competing in lighter weight classes.
"I wasn't really thinking about the world record, but I was thinking about the gold medal and how to get it,'' CHEMERKIN said. "After Ronny got the record, I knew I must get one if I was to win.''
All in all it was a fitting conclusion to a competition which saw 19 new world records set in just 10 days.
"When I lifted 255 and I broke the world record, I did indeed think I had won the gold,'' said WELLER, who flung his shoes into the crowd and collapsed in part exhiliration and part exhaustion after this final, record-breaking lift. "I was a little disappointed (not to win the gold), but I am happy with what I lifted.''
Since the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) restructured weight categories following the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, records in the newer categories have been set with regularity.
During the Games, world records were set in nine of the 10 classifications. Lifters from the People's Republic of China, Turkey, Greece, Germany, China, the Ukraine and the Russian Federation all etched their names in the record book. Foremost among them was Turkey's Naim SULEYMANOGLU, regarded by many as the greatest lifter ever. In Atlanta, SULEYMANOGLU captured his third straight Olympic title, setting a world record in the process. Other notable Olympians from 1996 were Turkey's Halil MUTLU, Greece's Pyrros DIMAS, ZHAN Xugang of the People's Republic of China and Timur TAIMANOV of the Ukraine. All set three world records en route to winning gold.
"I am a little surprised with the number of records, but I am very happy,'' said Dr. Tamas Ajan, General Secretary of the IWF.
Ajan and the rest of the 5,000 spectators who witness Tuesday's finale were kept in suspense until the very final lift. Only after CHEMERKIN lifted more than he ever had before was the outcome decided. That sort of drama and excitement was typical of what athletes, coaches, officials and fans will long remember of weightlifting at the Centennial Olympic Games.
This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Mark Vinson.
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| An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games. |