Photo: CNTV
 

Chinese lifter Long Qingquan claimed his second Olympic gold medal when he won the men's 56kg weightlifting event with a world record total of 307kg.

The 25-year-old Long, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist, overcame the challenge from defending champion Om Yun Chaol of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Long hoisted 137kg in snatch and 170kg in the jerk to break the previous world best of 305kg set by Turkish legend Halil Mutlu 16 years ago in the Sydney 2000 Games.

Om, 24, snatched 134kg and jerked 169kg for a combined lift of 303kg to settle for the silver medal.

Long is the first weightlifter with eight years between his first and second Olympic gold medal, in any men's and women's weightlifting event.

"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." Long said.

"I have prepared for the competition for four years because I did not get to compete in the (London) 2012 Olympic Games. After four years I did it." said Long.

Om was beaten for the first time in a major competition since he won this event at the London Olympics in 2012.

"I do not feel satisfied. I was hoping for gold. I put a lot of effort in. I just did not win." Om said.

"I never thought that Long could lift 170kg, because he never did that in the training before," said Yu Jie, the head coach of the men's team.

"He was perfect in the power, the technics and the psychology. He was amazing today." Yu added.

Sinphet Kuraithong of Thailand took the bronze with 289kg, becoming the first male weightlifter from his nation to win a medal at the Olympic Games.

"I did not expect that I would get a medal, but I just did what I had practised." Kruaithong said.

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