Paris 2024 weightlifting: All results, as Hou Zhihui breaks Olympic record to claim back-to-back gold in the women’s 49kg

Hou Zhihui of the People's Republic of China defended her Olympic title in dramatic fashion at the South Paris Arena on Wednesday, 7 August, setting an Olympic record in the clean-and-jerk to secure the gold medal in women’s 49kg weight class of weightlifting at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

It was a sensational victory that won her copious applause from the audience and joyous praise from her coaches. Hou lifted her arms in triumph, celebrating what she had just accomplished and reflecting on how she got there.

“Before my final lift, I thought about my family, my team here and my country all backing me up,” said Hou. “That’s what motivated me to make it happen on the final lift. I was really relieved after the final lift that broke the Olympic record.”

It was a tense two hours at the South Paris Arena, as athletes faltered and triumphed in successive lifts.

Romania's Mihaela Valentina Cambei set herself up as the woman to beat in the women’s 49kg weight category, completing a electrifying series of lifts that saw her raise 93kg above her head to take the lead at the halfway mark of the event.

While Cambei was untouchable in the snatch, her rivals sensed an opportunity in the clean-and-jerk when she entered the competition at lower weight than the other medal favorites.

The Romanian lifter entered the clean-and-jerk at 106kg, while Thailand’s Surodchana Khambao entered the competition at 110kg, along with future gold medalist Hou, with India’s Mirabai Chanu Saikhom looking to make a statement by entering at 111kg.

Cambei’s decision to start with lower weights paid dividends, however, as she lifted 112kg in the clean-and-jerk to post a final total of 205kg. It was a tall order for her rivals, who began to falter after successfully lifting their entry weights.

Saikhom missed her attempt to lift 114kg, removing her from medal contention. Khambao managed to match Cambei’s clean-and-jerk score of 112kg, but couldn’t lift 114kg to improve her final total, leaving her at a total of 200kg to claim the bronze medal.

This meant only Hou could challenge Cambei for the gold medal.

She went for broke, increasing the weight to 117kg for her second of three attempts in the clean-and-jerk. She failed, meaning she would have one more try to lift 117kg, with the gold medal going to Cambei if she failed.

Hou would not be defeated by the bar that brought her endless joy three years prior at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

She summoned all her strength, hoisting the 117kg bar above her head to set the Olympic record in the clean-and-jerk and claim the gold medal with a total of 206kg.

“I was really, really determined to make it happen for the final attempt because I knew that, if I missed it, I couldn’t win gold,” explained Hou. “I just tried to put in the maximum performance.”

An overjoyed Hou was joined on the podium by Cambei and Khambao, closing the final chapter of a dramatic competition at Paris 2024.

Weightlifting: Women’s 49kg podium

Gold: Hou Zhihui, CHN

Silver: Mihaela Valentina Cambei, ROU

Bronze: Surodchana Khambao, THA

See all the results on Olympics.com.