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Olympic Weightlifting Recaps: 26 July (Day 7)

Weightlifting 83kg / Group A

Dimas Sets World Records en Route to Second Gold Medal

Pyrros DIMAS of Greece set two world records while easily outdistancing the field to win his second consecutive gold medal Friday in the 83kg division of weightlifting at the Centennial Olympic Games. DIMAS, the Olympic champion in Barcelona, is the only Greek to ever win an Olympic gold medal in the sport.

Already leading the competition, DIMAS broke his own world record of 177.5 kg (391.25 lbs) in the snatch, which he set last August in China, by snatching 180 kg (396.75 lbs) on his third and final attempt. The record-setting lift touched off a wild celebration among spectators waving Greek flags at the Georgia World Congress Center and gave DIMAS a commanding 10kg lead over his closest pursuor -- Sergo CHAKHOIAN of Armenia -- heading into the clean and jerk portion of the competition. But DIMAS was hardly finished.

On his third attempt in the clean and jerk, DIMAS again broke his own world record of 212.5 kg (468.25 lbs) by lifting 213 kg (470 lbs). DIMAS leaped into the air in celebration and jogged a victory lap around the platform. But while the gold medal was his to keep, the clean and jerk record would last just minutes before Germany's Marc HUSTER made a successful lift at 213.5 (472 lbs) to grab the record in the clean and jerk. DIMAS' total of 392.5 kg (865.25 lbs) was also an Olympic record, eclipsing the mark of 387.5 (854.25 lbs). HUSTER's record-setting clean and jerk earned him the silver medal with a total of 382.5 kg (843.25 lbs), while Andrzej COFALIK of Poland won the bronze with a total of 372.5 kg (821 lbs).

Final Results: Gold - Pyrros DIMAS (GRE), 392.5 kg (865.25 lbs); Silver - Marc HUSTER (GER) 382.5 kg (843.25 lbs); Bronze - Andrzej COFALIK (POL) 372.5 (821 lbs).

"I came here to win the gold medal," said Pyrros DIMAS of Greece after setting two world records en route to winning his second Final Results consecutive Olympic gold medal in the 83kg class of weightlifting. "In training I had been breaking some world records and I saw it was my day, so I went for the world record."


Weightlifting 83kg Group B

MILEV Takes First in Group B 83kg

Krastu MILEV of Bulgaria tied personal bests in both the snatch and clean and jerk categories Friday en route to winning the Group B classification in the 83kg division of weightlifting at the Centennial Olympic Games. The 26-year-old MILEV opened at 155 kg (341.5 lbs) in the snatch and made the lift on his second attempt. He then snatched 160 kg (352.5) on his third and final attempt, 5kg more than Rishat MANSUROV of Kazakstan. In the clean and jerk segment, MILEV waited until all other lifters had finished and opened at 195 kg (429.75 lbs). He successfully made the lift and then made another lift at 200 kg (440.75 lbs) for a combined total of 360 kg (793.5 lbs). MILEV took his third attempt at 205 kg (451.75 lbs) and successfully cleaned the weight but was unable to lift the bar over his head. MANSUROV finished second at 337.5 kg (744 lbs) with Tofik GEYDAROV of Azerbaijan third at 330 kg (727.5 lbs). Anthony Arthur of Great Britain matched his personal best of 180 kg (396.75) in the clean and jerk and had a final attempt to set a British national record, but came up short.

Group B results (Total): 1. Krastu MILEV (BUL) 360 kg (793.5 lbs); 2. Rishat MANSUROV (KAZ) 337.5 kg (744 lbs); 3. Tofik GEYDAROV (AZE) 330 kg (727.5 lbs)

"The clean was fairly hard and took all of my leg strength and I just didn't have anything left for the jerk," said Great Britain's Anthony Arthur after barely missing a British national record. "I came here wanting to snatch 145 and clean and jerk 180, so I'm quite pleased."


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