21-year-old Indonesian Rizky Juniansyah made history by becoming Indonesia's first Olympic champion in weightlifting. At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, he set a new Olympic record by lifting a total of 354 kg — 155 kg in the snatch and 199 kg in the clean and jerk.
In a tense battle for gold, Juniansyah outperformed Thailand's Weeraphon Wichuma, who took second place, earning a silver medal with a result of 346 kg. This was Thailand's third medal in weightlifting at these Games, demonstrating the strength and depth of their sports program in this discipline.
One of the main favorites of the competition was China's Shi Zhiyong, a two-time Olympic champion, who was confidently leading after the snatch with a result of 165 kg, 10 kg ahead of Juniansyah. However, he failed to lift the declared weight in the clean and jerk, ending without a result, shocking spectators and fans. This was an unexpected turn of events, as Chinese athletes had won gold in three weight categories in weightlifting before this, and Shi Zhiyong was a top contender for victory. It was later revealed that Shi Zhiyong had a back injury that affected him after the snatch.
The bronze medal was won by Bulgarian Bozhidar Andreev with a result of 344 kg, demonstrating high skill and resilience.
Results, weightlifting, 73 kg, men:
- Gold: Rizky Juniansyah (Indonesia) — 354 kg (OR).
- Silver: Weeraphon Wichuma (Thailand) — 346 kg.
- Bronze: Bozhidar Andreev (Bulgaria) — 344 kg.
- Muhammed Ozbek (Turkey) — 341 kg.
- Luis Mosquera (Colombia) — 340 kg.
- Masanori Miyamoto (Japan) — 338 kg. 7. Ju Hyo Bak (South Korea) — 334 kg.
- Karem Ben Hnia (Tunisia) — 330 kg.
- Bernardin Matam (France) — 320 kg.
Shi Zhiyong (China) — no result. 165 kg snatch, 0 clean and jerk.
Julio Mayora (Venezuela) — no result. 152 kg snatch, 0 clean and jerk.
Ritvars Suharevs (Latvia) — no result.