108 kg Group A
Ukraine's TAIMAZOV Adds Record-Setting Glitter to Gold
Timur TAIMAZOV of the Ukraine set a world record in the clean and jerk en route to winning his first gold medal Monday in the 108kg class of weightlifting at the Centennial Olympic Games. TAIMAZOV's record-setting lift was the 16th in nine days of weightlifting competition during the Games.
The International Weightlifting Federation restructured weight classifications following the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona and world records in the new categories continue to be set with regularity at major international meets.
TAIMAZOV, who trailed after the snatch portion of the competition, lifted 236 kg (520.25 lbs) in the clean and jerk to surpass his own world record of 235 kg (518 lbs) set nearly two years ago. His total of 431 kg (950 lbs) is just shy of his world record total of 435 kg (959 lbs). Romania's Nicu VLAD, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist, led after the snatch with a lift of 197.5 kg (435.25 lbs) to TAIMAZOV's 195 kg (429.75). The Romanian kept the pressure on throughout the clean and jerk portion as well, lifting 222.5 kg (490.5 lbs) before failing at 227.5 and at 230 kg.
TAIMAZOV took the lead for good on his first lift of the clean and jerk, lifting 227.5 kg (501.5 lbs). On his second lift, he set the world record. He came up short on a final attempt at a stagering 240 kg (529 lbs) but had already locked up the gold. VLAD and Sergey SYRTSOV of the Russian Federation finished tied for second with a total of 420 kg (925.25 lbs) with SYRTSOV earning the silver medal by virtue of a lighter body weight. Current world champion Ihor RAZORENOV of the Ukraine injured his back during warmups and was unable to compete.
Final Results:
Gold-- Timur TAIMAZOV (UKR) 431 kg (950 lbs); Silver-- Sergey SYRTSOV (RUS) 420 kg (925.75 lbs); Bronze-- Nicu VLAD 420 kg (925.25 lbs)
``I did not really have to have the world record; what I wanted most was the gold medal,'' Timur TAIMAZOV of the Ukraine said after breaking his own world record in the clean and jerk en route to winning the 108kg division in weightlifting.
KALINKE Overcomes Illness to Win Group B at 108 kg
Germany's Mario KALINKE overcame a battle with an illness to outlast countryman Dimitri PROCHOROW and Latvia's Viktors SCHERBAITHS to claim first place in Group B of the 108 kg division of weightlifting at the Centennial Olympic Games. KALINKE, SCHERBATIHS and PROCHOROW each finished with totals of 390 kg (859.75 lbs) but KALINKE was declared the winner and SCHERBATIHS second based on a lighter body weight at the morning weigh-in. KALINKE's lighter weight may be partially due to illness which he said he had been fighting since arriving in Atlanta. KALINKE and SCHERBATIHS each lifted 177.5 kg (391.25 lbs) in the snatch and 212.5 kg (468.25) in the clean and jerk. KALINKE, SCHERBATIHS and PROCHOROW all missed final lifts which would have won the group for any of them. PROCHOROW's clean and jerk of 215 kg (473.75 lbs) was the largest of the session and tied a personal best by the Russian-born German. World record holder Timur TAIMAZOV of Ukraine and Sergey SYRTSOV of the Russian Federation are scheduled to compete in Group A later Monday at the Georgia World Congress Center.
Group B results: 1. Mario KALINKE (GER) 390 kg (859.75 lbs); 2. Viktors SCERBATIHS (LAT) 390 kg (859.75 lbs); 3. Dimitri PROCHOROW (GER) 390 kg (859.75 lbs); 4. CHUN Sang-Suk (KOR) 380 kg (387.25 lbs).
``I had hoped to lift 400 kg,'' Germany's Mario KALINKE said after winning Group B despite missing his final lift. ``But I am only 22 and this is my first Olympics so I hope I can improve.''
Return to the Olympic News Menu
Select another day:
Pre | July | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | August | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Post |
| 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. |