Paris 2024 Weightlifting: All results as Li Fabin defends men's 61kg gold with Olympic record; Hampton Morris makes history for Team USA
From the moment Li Fabin stepped onto the Paris 2024 Olympic weightlifting platform, it was clear he was on a mission: defend the title.
Mission accomplished, as Li of the People’s Republic of China won his second consecutive gold medal in the men's 61kg weightlifting competition on August 7.
The Chinese powerhouse set the stage for his victory during the snatch rounds, lifting an astounding 143kg, just three kilograms shy of his world record. This Olympic record-breaking performance put him in an unbeatable position and left his competitors trailing in his wake.
In the clean and jerk round, Li successfully lifted 167kg, bringing his total to 310kg and securing the gold medal with ease. Another medal to his impressive résumé, which includes a gold medal from Tokyo 2020 and world championship titles in 2019, 2022, and 2023.
"I really enjoyed it and observed the live atmosphere. Our friends from China came to cheer us on, and the atmosphere was electrifying. I felt a surge of energy from it," the two-time Olympic champion described.
The competition was fierce, but no one could catch Li. Therrapong Silachai of Thailand claimed the silver medal with 303kgs, while Hampton Morris of the United States made history by taking home the bronze, the first for Team USA in weightlifting since Los Angeles 1984. “I approached the bar knowing I would make it. I didn’t have any doubt in my mind I would do it," Morris said.
His ambitious attempt to break the world record in the clean and jerk added drama to the final, though he ultimately finished with a total of 298kg.
Eko Irawan of Indonesia, a veteran of the sport and four-time Olympic medalist, suffered an injury during his final clean and jerk attempt. Aged 35, Irawan was the oldest competitor in the category and his injury forced him to withdraw, preventing him from adding to his impressive tally of Olympic medals. Nonetheless, a commendable performance from the Indonesian.
Li himself was moved by Irawan's performance. "Watching Irawan lift made me feel quite emotional. It’s touching to see someone at such an age still competing fiercely in sports. I relate to this spirit deeply because I have also been contemplating whether to retire. Seeing everyone fighting for this sports spirit makes me think that maybe I can continue a bit longer," the 31-year-old added.
The men's 61kg category at Paris 2024 was one of five weight classes per gender, reduced from seven at the previous Olympics. Check out the full weightlifting schedule and more information here.
Weightlifting: Men's 61kg podium
Gold: Li Fabin, People's Republic of China
Silver: Theerapong Silachai, Thailand
Bronze: Hampton Morris, United States
All results on Olympics.com