2008 Olympic champ weightlifter Long makes perfect comeback

Chinese weightlifter Long Qingquan completed a stunning Olympic gold double when he won the men's 56kg event here at the Rio Games.

The 2008 Olympic winner produced a magnificent display to defeat defending champion Om Yun Chaol of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Long drew first blood during the snatch by eclipsing Om's then-competition leading 134kg with a hoist of 137kg. It equalled Halil Mutlu's Olympic record set 16 years ago at Sydney 2000.

That left it to Om to attempt to break his own clean and jerk Olympic record of 168kg with a lift of 169 kg, which he did.

Long was undaunted and loaded the bar with 170kg for the final lift of the night to break Om's two-minute-old Olympic record and clinch his second gold medal in the event.

"I dedicated this gold medal to my second child who isn't born yet," Long told reporters after the competition.

Long experienced ups and downs following the Beijing 2008 Olympics and didn't qualify for the London Olympics.

"I am really happy. I am really proud. I came to this competition with two dreams: to win the competition and break the world record and I did both," said the 25-year-old Long.

"I was still a boy eight years ago. Now I' m a father. I hope my children will be proud of their father when they know my life."

Yu Jie, head coach of the Chinese men's team, hailed Long a great lifter.

"I didn't expect that Long could lift 170kg, because he never succeeded in practice this year," said Yu.

"He was just amazing today." Endit