Chinese Lu Yong Wins Men's 85kg Weightlifting Gold

Chinese weightlifter Lu Yong claimed the men's 85kg title at the Beijing Olympics on Friday, clearing a total of 394kg, equaling the world record set by Andrei Rybakou from Belarus one minute ago.

Lu, 22, beat Rybakou to the second place due to less bodyweight. Lu, who finished second in the snatch with 180kg, overcame 214kg in the jerk in his second attempt but the referees stunned the world by changing their first decision of "made" to "fail".

Lu had to lift the 214kg in his third attempt. Under huge pressure, the Chinese made it and clinched the gold unquestionably.

Tigran Varban Martirosyan from Armenia got the bronze with a total of 380kg, beating Vladimir Sedov from Kazakhstan, who also cleared 380kg, off the podium with bodyweight advantage.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2008)

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