The 2013 World Weightlifting Championships
Wroclaw, Poland
October 19 – 27, 2013
Andrew Charniga, Jr.
Sportivny Press©
There was a relatively smaller turnout for this competition due in no small part to its proximity to several other international tournaments, generally less money available in the year after the Olympic Games and the effects of the still global recession. However, there was some very high quality lifting, especially from Russia and China. Historically this competition has a lower attendance for several reasons. National federations have less money in the year following the Olympics; athletes are resting from the intense Olympic preparation the year before and more importantly you can’t score qualification points for the next Olympic Games. For instance, the attendance for the 2009 championships in Goyang, Korea was: 196 men 133 Women. Even though this year’s championships were reasonably centrally located in Europe the numbers for 2013 were: 168 men 124 Women.
Noticeable by their absence because they are expected to be medalists, Indonesia and Korea, sent no athletes. Taipei, Vietnam, Bulgaria, Rumania and France each entered only one female; Spain entered only 2; none of Kazakhstan’s three female gold medalists entered and the PRK had only four lifters. Besides the aforementioned absence of Indonesia and Korea, the UKR, Cuba, AZE, Albania had only two athletes each; Turkey, HUN, VIE, and France only three each.
A general overall lower turnout means federations who can afford to send full teams even if they do not meet international standards of competitiveness have the opportunity to place higher in the team standings.
General Impressions
The competition was held in the Halla Stullecia, built in the 19th century. The facility was excellent with plenty of room for training and a spacious hall arranged perfectly for this level of competition. The audience was prepared for each ‘A’ session, for lack of a better term, by “the warm up guy” with volunteers from the organizing committee dancing and marching to Polish and other Slavic music.
China sent two gold medalists from London, Russia whom had no gold medals in London, entered three silver medalists and a bronze medalist, and the PRK had both male gold medalists and one bronze medalist from London. It was noteworthy the Chinese entered the ‘A’ team of females for this competition. Their lifters competed in the National Games only six weeks before and with the exception of the 69 kg champion all were gold medalists from this competition. The difficulty of holding peak condition after such and intense competition are obvious. One of the Chinese lifters (XIANG Yanmei) even did better than the month before, but for the most part they were slightly down.
In other news a rather large number of doping positives were announced at the pre – competition congress.
The Women
48 kg class
|
Athlete |
Nat |
Bdywt |
S |
J |
Total |
|
CHN |
47.67 |
84 |
115 |
199 |
|
PRK |
47.34 |
78 |
103 |
181 |
|
MEX |
47.63 |
78 |
96 |
174 |
TIAN Yayun (CHN) and RYANG Chun Hwu (PRK). Charniga photos.
This class featured the Olympic bronze medalist RYANG Chun Hwu (PRK) and the 2013 Chinese National Games champion TIAN Yayun (CHN). At the 2013 National Games TIAN Yayun defeated another TIAN (Yuan), the 2011 world champion and holder of the unofficial world record in the clean and jerk with 126 kg at 48 kg. TIAN Yayun easily jerked a world record equaling 121 on her 2nd attempt in the competition in Shenyang on September 3. This forced TIAN Yuan to 124 kg for first. She cleaned it easily, but she was unable to jerk it.
Of the top three Valencia Hern. Carolina (MEX) opened with an easy 75 kg. RYANG Chun Hwu (PRK) was next with 78. She made this with an obvious press out but it was good anyways. Valencia Hern. Carolina (MEX) took this same weight after crowd favorite Karpinska Marzena (POL) made a very smooth lift with it on her first. Valencia had it over head but let the bar drift backward. Valencia Hern. Carolina (MEX) muscled 78 overhead on her 3rd with no trouble. Built for the clean and jerk, RYANG Chun Hwu (PRK) made 81 with a struggle on her 2nd. Lifting with the smooth, polished technique which is so typical of the Polish lifters for so many years, Karpinska unfortunately missed 81 twice and lost a lot of ground. RYANG Chun Hwu (PRK) went to 83, but it was up and down behind.
TIAN Yayun (CHN) who snatched 93 kg six weeks earlier opted for a modest 84 opener. Of the 16 Chinese lifters in the 48 kg class last month approximately 15 snatched 80 kg or more. In this class there were only two lifts with 80 kg or more and one was by the Chinese lifter.
TIAN dropped her and 1st and 2nd attempts with what was obviously a light weight. Unlike the first two attempts TIAN sat low and paused briefly to make sure she had the weight secured for a good lift with 84 kg.
Karpinska came out with a shoulder width grip in the C+J with 97 kg. She cleaned it and jerked it with no problem. This technique was in contrast to the two Colombian lifters she was sandwiched in between; who would change hand spacing. This simple to understand, one grip for both parts, is the classic technique; which in the long run is more reliable. Valencia Hern. Carolina (MEX) also clean and jerked with a shoulder width grip for an easy success with 98 kg. Karpinska jumped to 103 kg which was just too heavy to clean. Valencia Hern. Carolina (MEX) made a very strong clean with 103, jerked it forward, stepping forward enough to save it. Technically she is not in Karpinska’s class. However, she makes up for it with more strength. Karpinska bumped up to 104; like her 103, it was too heavy. RYANG Chun Hwu (PRK) opened with 105. She struggled a little in the clean, jerked well but it was forward and down, despite a very wide split. RYANG’s 2nd with 105 was a better clean but the barbell did not get to arms – length. RYANG Chun Hwu (PRK) cleaned her 3rd with 105 easily; jerked with open hands with wide split for a good lift.
TIAN Yayun (CHN) and Valencia Hern. Carolina (MEX). Charniga photos.
TIAN Yayun (CHN) opened with a very conservative 106 kg. She made this like a warm up weight. Valencia Hern. Carolina (MEX) made another easy clean with her 3rd at 106. The jerk was way forward with no chance of success. TIAN Yayun (CHN) lifted 110 on her 2nd like it was another warm up weight. The jerk from the chest was extremely powerful, with a shallow split. Another easy clean and almost no effort jerk for TIAN at 115 sealed a victory margin of 18 kg which could have been much larger.
53 kg class
|
Athlete |
Nat |
Bdywt |
S |
J |
Total |
|
CHN |
52.39 |
100 |
121 |
221 |
|
AZE |
52.73 |
100 |
121 |
221 |
|
THA |
52.73 |
91 |
112 |
213 |
The new kid on the international scene LI Yayun (CHN) was the clear favorite in this class after winning the Chinese national Games on 9/03/13 (105 + 122 = 227 kg). She succeeded with an unofficial world record 105 kg snatch at this competition. Apparently, after seeing her teammate TIAN Yayun almost bomb in the snatch the day before, LI spent some 5 minutes after the introductions doing shadow lifts on the competition platform to adjust to the raised surface and lighting of the arena. Her main competition was Iovu Christina (AZE), the London silver medalist, who recently shifted allegiance from Moldova to Azerbaijan.
Iovu Christina (AZE) and LI Yayun (CHN). Charniga photos.
Of the eventual medalists Tanasan Sopita (THA) appeared first with a power snatch 1st attempt. As do most lifters who power snatch or near power their first attempt Tanasan Sopita (THA) sat lower on her 2nd with 89. However, the descent was slow and not very low. Tanasan Sopita (THA) took 91 on her 3rd and made a fast powerful lift almost power snatching this weight. Iovu Christina (AZE) made a good pull back jump back lift with 93 kg. LI Yayun (CHN) lifted her 1st with 95 kg like it was 10 kilos below her best. Iovu Christina (AZE) made another good lift with her 2nd at 96 kg. LI Yayun (CHN) went to 100 kg on her 2nd. She sat lower this time for another easy lift. Iovu Christina (AZE) followed with a pull back, jump back and low squat with 100 kg for 2nd place in the snatch.
LI Yayun (CHN) and Tanasan Sopita (THA). Charniga photos.
LI Yayun (CHN) went to a world record 104 kg on her 3rd. She pulled back, jumped back; had the weight overhead easily only to lose it backward.
The London silver medalist Miyake Hiromi (JPN) who has moved up a class was not a factor here. She has some of the signs of an aging lifter such as difficulty effectively locking her arms. She was turned down for arm lock for one snatch and two of her jerks.
Tanasan Sopita (THA) sat back a little with her opener at 109 but compensated with a very strong jerk. Tanasan Sopita (THA) made another sit back sloppy clean with 112. She was lucky to get the jerk passed. Iovu Christina (AZE) opened with 113 kg with a strong clean and an easy, shoulder width hand spacing, jerk. Tanasan Sopita (THA) made a half effort to jerk 113 after a harder clean. LI Yayun (CHN) made a easy pull back, jump back, clean with 115 on her
LI Yayun (CHN) went to a world record 104 kg on her 3rd. She pulled back, jumped back; had the weight overhead easily only to lose it backward.
The London silver medalist Miyake Hiromi (JPN) who has moved up a class was not a factor here. She has some of the signs of an aging lifter such as difficulty effectively locking her arms. She was turned down for arm lock for one snatch and two of her jerks.
Tanasan Sopita (THA) sat back a little with her opener at 109 but compensated with a very strong jerk. Tanasan Sopita (THA) made another sit back sloppy clean with 112. She was lucky to get the jerk passed. Iovu Christina (AZE) opened with 113 kg with a strong clean and an easy, shoulder width hand spacing, jerk. Tanasan Sopita (THA) made a half effort to jerk 113 after a harder clean. LI Yayun (CHN) made a easy pull back, jump back, clean with 115 on her 1st followed by an easy jerk. Iovu Christina (AZE) pulled back, jumped back, sitting very low with 120 kg clean. She jerked it to arms – length, but tried to get the weight under control to no avail by leaning forward at the waist like her teammate Hristov Valentin. LI Yayun (CHN) took the same 120 kg for gold in both total and jerk. The clean was like a warm up lift followed by a slow half squat and step forward jerk. Iovu Christina (AZE) went to 121 for gold in total and jerk. She made an excellent clean followed by a stronger, no lean forward jerk to go into the lead. Needing the same 121 to win on bodyweight LI Yayun (CHN) made it look routine to win gold in jerk and total. This competition was no big deal for LI who competed against three former world champions last month at the Chinese National Games.
58 kg class
|
Athlete |
Nat |
Bdywt |
S |
J |
Total |
|
TPE |
57.73 |
108 |
133 |
241 |
|
ECU |
57.32 |
103 |
122 |
225 |
|
RUS |
57.59 |
96 |
122 |
218 |
DONG Wei the favorite (107 + 132 = 239), was another national Games champion entered in this class. Her main competition would come from KUO Hsing –Chun (TPE) and RI Jong Hwa (PRK). Shadrina Elena (RUS) was the first of the eventual medalists up in the snatch with 93 kg. This was an easy lift almost a power snatch. Her second with 96 was pulled forward and dropped in front. On her third with 96 kg Shadrina Elena (RUS) pulled forward, jumped forward and sank pretty low to secure it.
Escobar Alexandra (ECU) and KUO Hsing -Chun (TPE). Charniga photos.
Escobar Alexandra (ECU) the 33 year old mother, long time international level lifter from Ecuador is good example of the power of motivation in elite sport. She is nothing special in terms of technique she just gets the job done; for which she is amply rewarded back home. She made her 1st with 98 with just a step forward.
RI Jong Hwa (PRK) was up next with 103 for a nice, smooth low squat success. KUO Hsing -Chun (TPE) this year’s Asian and Univerisade champion came out for 103 as well. She made a very easy hop forward lift, with a step forward to get the weight under control. Escobar Alexandra (ECU) pulled in her 2nd with 103 kg, sat low and struggled for several seconds to gain her balance as her knee wrap unraveled. This was a good lift. Under he old rules this lift would have been turned down because the wrap touched the platform.
DONG Wei the 2013 Chinese National Games champion, 2010 world champion and 2010 Youth Olympic champion opened with 105 for an easy lift. KUO Hsing -Chun (TPE) made another good hop forward snatch with 106. For Escobar Alexandra (ECU) 106 kg was just too heavy; it went up but dropped forward. RI Jong Hwa (PRK) went to 107 for her 2nd. She got the weight overhead ok but it was forward, her heels came up and the barbell dropped. Strangely enough her third with the same weight was a heel raising repeat of her second. DONG Wei (CHN) pulled 108 to arms – length into a low squat easily enough but it was forward and down it came. KUO Hsing -Chun (TPE) took the same weight. She was lucky to get only one red for press out. DONG Wei (CHN) repeated with 108 for an easy lift. However, it should be noted this is the same lifter who snatched 110 kg in the 2009 Chinese national Games at age 16. She also lifted this much at the 2010 Youth Olympics. But here it is four years later and she can only lift 2 kg less.
DONG Wei (CHN) and RI Jong Hwa (PRK). Charniga photos.
After the snatch DONG Wei was in first followed by KUO, Escobar and RI. Shadrina Elena (RUS) opened with a mechanical looking 115 kg. Her next with 119 kg looked the same. She lifts like she may have switched from powerlifting or bodybuilding. Escobar Alexandra (ECU) pulled in 120 kg to her chest then dropped it and limped off. She came back out with this weight and this time made a fairly easy lift. Shadrina Elena (RUS) made her third jerk with 122 despite some press out. Escobar Alexandra (ECU) went to 122 kg to move ahead of the Russian on bodyweight. It was another good lift. She walked off, the limp suddenly gone.
RI Jong Hwa (PRK) had to pause in the bottom of the squat after a short hop forward with her 1st at 132, because her heels came up. She struggled to stand and did not have enough left to make the jerk. Following herself, she pulled this weight in ok bounced several times got half way up and dumped it. With her back to the wall RI Jong Hwa (PRK) pulled in 132, bouncing a couple of times to stand. However, the jerk was way forward, not even close.
Now we were down to the two leaders after the snatch. KUO Hsing -Chun (TPE) was first up with 133 kg for an easy clean; a mechanical, but a good jerk. DONG Wei (CHN) came out for the same weight (she was lighter) wearing an orange colored bandage on her left knee, which has a telltale lump at the insertion point of the patellar tendon known as Osgood – Schlatter disease. She pulled this weight to her chest easy enough; only got half way up before dumping the weight. She cleaned 133 kg on her second with a struggle but the effort for jerk was not there. On her third with the same weight she made a better clean, a better effort to jerk the weight, but it wasn’t enough to fix the barbell on straight arms. Already the champion, KUO Hsing -Chun (TPE) hopped forward and wobbled in the low squat with 136 followed by a forward, shaky jerk, turned down for press out. She repeated with this weight, hopped forward dropping into a low squat like a rock; then jerked forward trying to lean forward to save it, to no avail. So, two bomb outs opened the door for Escobar and the Russian Shadrina to medal.
63 kg class
|
Athlete |
Nat |
Bdywt |
S |
J |
Total |
|
RUS |
61.58 |
112 |
140 |
252 |
|
PRK |
62.29 |
109 |
140 |
249 |
|
CHN |
60.73 |
108 |
136 |
244 |
DENG Mengrong (CHN) was the favorite after winning the Chinese National Games the month before this competition with the following result (and passing her final attempt 113 + 138 = 251). JO Pok Hyang (PRK) (103 + 133 = 236) silver medalist of the 2013 Asian championships and 2011 Junior World champion at 69 kg, Turieva Tima (RUS) would be expected to round out the top three.
JO Pok Hyang (PRK) was the first out with 103 kg. A smooth hop back lift, with a pause in the low squat. Former world champion at 58 kg Novikava Nastassia (BLR) had moved up to compete in this class. She made an easy hop backwards lift with 103. Turieva Tima (RUS) opened with 105. She pulled high, sat low slowly for a good lift. DENG Mengrong (CHN) followed with the same weight. The weight went up easily but was dropped forward. DENG repeated with 105. She made it with a hop back one motion lift with ridiculous ease. Novikava Nastassia (BLR) had 106 up without arm lock for a miss. She repeated with this weight; had it locked, but dropped it as she walked forward.
JO Pok Hyang (PRK) like Novikava has relatively short arms; which makes for poor leverage in the snatch. She had 108 up easy but her heels came up sending the barbell forward. DENG Mengrong (CHN) who was playing it safe for someone who snatched 113 kg six weeks before, hopped back and sat low to secure 108 on her 3rd. JO Pok Hyang (PRK) jumped one kilo to 109 kg and with a small hop back she lifted this weight easily, in one continuous motion.
Turieva Tima (RUS) and JO Pok Hyang (PRK). Charniga photos.
Turieva Tima (RUS) had waited eight attempts for her 2nd at 110. Like the first she sat low slowly and letting out a screech stood for a good lift. Already in the lead with her 2nd Turieva Tima (RUS) made another low squat screeching lift with 112 to take a four kilo lead on DENG and three kilos on JO. Novikava Nastassia (BLR) jerked 130 but lost it running forward. Turieva Tima (RUS) opened with 132 with a slight hop forward clean and very solid jerk. DENG Mengrong (CHN) who used only to attempts to make 138 last month, selected 133 to stay close to Turieva. She at very low, stepped forward then made a very strong jerk with bending wrists to fix the barbell overhead. JO Pok Hyang (PRK) cleaned 135 like a feather, but the jerk wasn’t even close to arms – length. Novikava made an easy clean and a solid jerk with 135. JO Pok Hyang (PRK) made another effortless clean with 135 then finished the exercise with a forceful split and secure arm lock. DENG Mengrong (CHN) went to 136 for a smooth hop back elastic clean followed by a powerful scissoring jerk.
Turieva Tima (RUS) jumped five kilos to 137 for her 2nd attempt. A strong clean and a little bit of a struggle in the jerk for a good lift. JO Pok Hyang (PRK) made the strongest clean of the night with 140 kg, then another powerful jerk, with explosive scissoring under the barbell. Turieva Tima (RUS) already the champion on bodyweight went to 140 for the gold in the jerk. She struggled a little at the top of the recovery in the clean but managed to jerk the weight with a lean forward to secure all three gold medals, up to this point. Novikava Nastassia (BLR) sat backward with 141 in her attempt for a gold in the jerk.
In an effort to move into second and take a gold in the jerk DENG Mengrong (CHN) opted for 141. She cleaned this weight, only two kilos from the world record after bouncing twice; took a step back and adjusted the barbell; adjusted the barbell again, then another step back and another step back. Finally she paused a few seconds before trying to jerk the weight but she had nothing left. Any normal lifter would have dropped the barbell or passed out after so many steps and adjustments.
DENG Mengrong (CHN) and Novikava Nastassia (BLR). Charniga photos.
Turieva Tima (RUS) was the surprise champion in this class especially when you consider her results from the previous year: 237 kg at 68.20 kg bodyweight at the Russian junior chps in March 2012; 234 kg @ 68.19 kg bodyweight in the junior world chps. of May 2012. Her results leading up to these championships are presented in the table below. The reader is pleased to draw his/her own conclusions.
Results of Turieva Tima (RUS)
|
Date |
Bdywt |
S |
J |
T |
Comp. |
rank |
|
|
2009 |
57.55 |
86 |
100 |
186 |
YWC |
5 |
|
|
2009 |
62.19 |
90 |
110 |
200 |
EYC |
2 |
|
|
2010 |
62.57 |
98 |
119 |
217 |
JWC |
2 |
|
|
2011 |
62.88 |
102 |
127 |
229 |
JWC |
1 |
|
|
2012 |
68.20 |
107 |
130 |
237 |
RJC |
1 |
03/15/12 |
|
2012 |
68.19 |
104 |
130 |
234 |
JWC |
4 |
05/10/12 |
|
2013 |
61.58* |
112 |
140 |
252 |
SWC |
1 |
10/21/13 |
- Notations: YWC (youth world chps.); EYC (European youth chps); JWC (Junior World Chps); SWC (Senior world chps); RJC (Russian junior championships)
69 kg class
|
Athlete |
Nat |
Bdywt |
S |
J |
Total |
|
CHN |
68.51 |
123 |
148 |
271 |
|
PRK |
68.67 |
119 |
143 |
262 |
|
BLR |
68.27 |
116 |
143 |
259 |
LI Hongli clean and jerks 154 kg at 2013 Chinese National Games. Charniga photos
XIANG Yanmei (CHN) the 2011 World championships and 2103 Chinese National Games silver medalist and RYO Un Hui (PRK) were the two favorites of this class. XIANG made 120 + 145 = 265 at the National Games on 09/05/2013. She, like nearly everyone in attendance, assumed she was the clear winner after successfully jerking 145 following a miss with this weight. Her nearest competitor snatched 120 kg, yet only able to clean and jerk 135 kg.
However, LI Hongli snatching only 112 kg; proved, as the American cliché goes, “it ain’t over till its over”. Squatting so low in the clean, her hips went half way through the earth to America, LI clean and jerked 154 kg to make up an eight kilo, plus bodyweight, deficit. Too stunned to cry immediately following this shocking episode; only six weeks earlier, XIANG was prepared not let this happen in Wroclaw.
Sazanavets Dzina (BLR) and RYO Un Hui (PRK). Charniga photos.
The two Russians in this class Slivenko Oxana and Shimkova Svetlana, based on recent results, were not expected to be a factor. Both the lifters seem to have lost some range of motion in the lower extremities resulting from years of strength training with pulls, presses, good mornings and so forth; and along with this a loss competitiveness. That is why it interesting to note that the ‘strongest’ in this class at the Chinese National Games was the most flexible.
Shkermankova Maryana (BLR) one of the two Belarus girls whom competed in London opened with an almost power snatch 108. Slivenko made a pull forward, hop forward 110 on her 1st. Sazanavets Dzina (BLR) pulled 111 forward, sat low, struggled for several seconds to secure her balance, before recovering. Shkermankova Maryana (BLR) was turned down for press out with 108. She lost the same 108 backward trying to sink low on her 3rd. You see this frequently when someone tries to apply power snatch to the full lift on the platform. Shimkova missed awooden looking 114 kg on her third.
RYO Un Hui (PRK) made a smooth hop back, low squat with her 115 kg opener. Slivenko Oxana made a faster lift with her 2nd at 115. Sazanavets Dzina (BLR) hopped back and sat low with less problem balancing 116. XIANG Yanmei (CHN) opened with a very easy 117, not hitting bottom in the squat. RYO Un Hui (PRK) dragged 118 overhead but no where near lock out. Slivenko Oxana made another hop forward 118, probably the best of her three attempts. Sazanavets Dzina (BLR) lifted 119 up and behind without locking her arms. RYO Un Hui (PRK) jumped one kilo to 119. She hauled it overhead on sheer determination, sitting in the low squat for a couple of seconds before recovering. XIANG Yanmei (CHN) was the only one left. She hopped back for an easy lift with 120 then duplicated this effort with 123 (the same weight she missed six weeks earlier) to go into a 4 kg lead.
Sazanavets Dzina (BLR) opened with an easy 138 for her 1st attempt. Shimkova Svetlana was unable to jerk her 3rd with 139. Slivenko Oxana (RUS) who jerked 145 to win
wooden looking 114 kg on her third.
RYO Un Hui (PRK) made a smooth hop back, low squat with her 115 kg opener. Slivenko Oxana made a faster lift with her 2nd at 115. Sazanavets Dzina (BLR) hopped back and sat low with less problem balancing 116. XIANG Yanmei (CHN) opened with a very easy 117, not hitting bottom in the squat. RYO Un Hui (PRK) dragged 118 overhead but no where near lock out. Slivenko Oxana made another hop forward 118, probably the best of her three attempts. Sazanavets Dzina (BLR) lifted 119 up and behind without locking her arms. RYO Un Hui (PRK) jumped one kilo to 119. She hauled it overhead on sheer determination, sitting in the low squat
the 2006 worlds, 156 to win the 2007 worlds, opened with 140. Shkermankova Maryana (BLR) cleaned 140 with a hop forward; then jerked the barbell way forward. Slivenko Oxana (RUS) made a hop forward clean of 140, followed with a forceful effort to scissors under the weight for a good lift. Shkermankova Maryana (BLR) made an easier clean with her 3rd at 140, seemed to have the jerk solidly overhead but the barbell fell forward. RYO Un Hui (PRK) pulled in her 1st with 143. Sat for a moment then dropped it forward. Sazanavets Dzina (BLR) cleaned 143 very easy, followed by an almost textbook jerk. RYO Un Hui (PRK) struggled to stand with her 2nd at 143, but jerked it well.
XIANG Yanmei (CHN) with 123 kg snatch and 148 kg jerk. Charniga photos.
Slivenko Oxana (RUS) cleaned 144 with a struggle; unfortunately, jerked with an obvious press out. Lifting with almost a snatch hand spacing XIANG Yanmei (CHN) hopped back to clean 145 followed by a strong jerk. Sazanavets Dzina (BLR) made a very nice clean with 146 but the barbell sort of wobbled out of her grasp in the jerk. RYO Un Hui (PRK) pulled in 147 bounced twice; getting no further than ¾ of the way up, before dropping the weight. Already the champion XIANG Yanmei (CHN) pulled in 148; sitting a moment before bouncing to get up. The jerk briefly looked ok, but down it came. On her third she cleaned the 148 easier and this time jerked instinctively with a straight rear leg instead of an abbreviated split with bent rear knee, for a solid lift. The was no chance for someone to come out of nowhere this time and make erase an 8 kg lead.
75 kg class
|
Athlete |
Nat |
Bdywt |
S |
J |
Total |
|
RUS |
74.00 |
125 |
157 |
282 |
|
RUS |
74.61 |
120 |
157 |
277 |
|
CHN |
74.25 |
126 |
150 |
276 |
This promised to be a very competitive class with KANG Yue (CHN) (130 = 160 = 290) the newly crowned 2013 Chinese National Games champion; the 2011 World champion Yevshtukina Nadezda (RUS); still junior Zubova Olga (RUS) and Valentin Lidia (ESP).
Valentin Lidia (ESP) was the first up with 117 kg in the snatch. She pulled back, hopped back, for an almost power snatch. Yevshtukina Nadezda (RUS) followed with a pull forward, hop forward, easy lift at 120. Zubova Olga (RUS) took the same weight pausing in the low squat for balance before recovering. KANG Yue (CHN) pulled 122 back, with little or no movement of the feet. Valentin Lidia (ESP) pulled the same 122 back but did not sink into a low squat, so she missed, what should have made with no trouble. She followed herself with the same weight, this time sinking into a low squat quickly without a “braking” in the descent for a good lift; this could have a been a heavier weight.
Valentin Lidia (ESP) and Yevshtukina Nadezda (RUS). Charniga Photos.
Yevshtukina Nadezda (RUS) pulled 125 forward, the same weight she missed three times in London, dropping it without sinking into a deep squat. Zubova Olga (RUS) followed her teammate with the same weight, pulling it up and back but sinking low with some resistance, lost it backwards. Yevshtukina Nadezda (RUS) pulled her 3rd with 125 forward, hopped forward and dropped it like the first, without sinking into a low squat. Zubova Olga (RUS) pulled in her 3rd with 125 by sinking low quickly without noticeable resistance. KANG Yue (CHN) made another no foot movement lift with 126; pausing briefly to shift her balance backward before recovering. She went to 131 for her 3rd. Unfortunately, she was turned down for what was more a wobble in her elbow than a press out. This opened the door for the two Russians.
Valentin Lidia (ESP) was up first in the clean and jerk with 138 kg. This was an easy clean; a
jerk shallow split. Lidia jumped to 146 cleaning the weight with ease but she struggled to fix herself underneath the barbell in the jerk. She got two red lights for no apparent infraction and like KANG’s 131 snatch and Beauchimen- Nadeau’s jerk with 139, she was another victim overly zealous officiating. Following herself with the same weight Lidia struggled to clean the weight and had nothing left for the jerk.
Yevshtukina Nadezda (RUS), pulling forward and hopping forward with her opener at 150 kg, compensates for an awkward receiving disposition for the weight in the squat with an excellent jerk. KANG Yue (CHN) made a no foot movement clean and what seemed to be good jerk but the barbell fell forward without pausing overhead. KANG performed a half hearted pull on her next with the same weight. She seemed to get it together on her third with easy clean but still a shaky jerk. Zubova Olga (RUS) opened with 151 to move ahead of KANG. She pulled the weight, pausing before standing then inexplicably missed the jerk. Zubova carefully cleaned the 151 again and despite shaking in the starting position managed a good jerk to move into first place. Yevshtukina Nadezda (RUS) jumped to 157, cleaning it forward; waited until her balance shifted backwards before making another excellent jerk. Zubova Olga (RUS) opted for the same weight. She made the smoothest, best clean of the day and perfect jerk to move into first by six kilos.
Zubova Olga (RUS) and KANG Yue (CHN). Charniga photos
Yevshtukina Nadezda (RUS) was forced to go to 163 kg equal to her own world record. She stormed out to the platform, way too tense; consequently, she was unable to even shoulder the weight; Zubova became the champion.
+75 kg class
|
Athlete |
Nat |
Bdywt |
S |
J |
Total |
|
RUS |
104.32 |
142 |
190 |
332 |
|
CHN |
133.02 |
146 |
182 |
328 |
|
BLR |
117.56 |
130 |
161 |
291 |
The +75 kg class featured a re – match between 2011 World and 2012 Olympic champion ZHOU Lulu (CHN) and Kashirina Tatiana (RUS). This class typically has the least depth of the women’s classes. Shkuratava Katsiaryna (BLR) almost power snatched her opener with 120 kg. Pulsabsakul Chitchnok (THA) made a very smooth hop back lift with 121. Shkuratava Katsiaryna (BLR) made an identical lift of her first with 2nd with 126. Pulsabsakul Chitchnok (THA) likewise mirrored her first attempt with her 2nd at 127. Shkuratava Katsiaryna (BLR) hopped backward only to run forward; to get 130, even though she should have been called for press out. Pulsabsakul Chitchnok (THA) made an excellent lift with 131. Her technique was among the best in this class.
Kashirina Tatiana (RUS). Charniga photos.
The Olympic champion and recently crowned 2013 Chinese National Games champion ZHOU Lulu (CHN) hopped back and to the side a little as she toyed with 135 kg. Kashirina Tatiana (RUS) the world record holder with 151 kg, made an easy hop back 142. ZHOU Lulu (CHN) tossed up 143 just like the first, to move ahead. Five weeks earlier she managed 147 and needed only 183 to win the national games. While Kashirina waited for the increase, ZHOU Lulu (CHN) went to 146. She needed a couple of seconds to get balanced with this weight in the low squat before recovering with her third successful lift. Kashirina Tatiana (RUS) pulled 147 on her 2nd just like her first; hopped back but did not sink into a low position so down it came. Following herself she made basically the same mistake and suddenly LULU was where she wanted to be: in the lead.
Pulsabsakul Chitchnok (THA) opened with 155 with a little struggle to clean followed by an easy, shallow split jerk. Shkuratava Katsiaryna (BLR) made a technically efficient lift with 156. Pulsabsakul Chitchnok (THA) cleaned 160 easy enough, however, poor effort to jerk. Her effort in the jerk with her 3rd at 160, was much better. Shkuratava Katsiaryna (BLR) hopped back with 161 then jerked well to move ahead of Pulsabsakul. With third place locked, she went to 170 for her third. A hop back clean was followed with a secure jerk, but bar oscillation was too much for her to hold it long enough. The difference between this tier of +75 lifters; those who are in contention for the bronze down to fifth place, and the next lower tier, is that they are not necessarily stronger, or if stronger not significantly, they have reasonable motor skills to perform the exercises efficiently. These skills are often lacking in the next lower tier of athlete. Some of whom do not possess even the basic motor skills to perform the lifts in a full squat, consequently, the potential competitiveness of these athletes is low.
ZHOU Lulu (CHN). Charniga photos.
Now it was down to the Chinese and the Russian. Unlike their two previous encounters, ZHOU Lulu (CHN) was leading by four kilos after the snatch. ZHOU cleaned 175 easy enough, even though she has some difficulty lifting the bar to her clavicles; then jerked the weight extremely well. Kashirina Tatiana (RUS) replied with 180 to make up the deficit and move ahead. A very easy hop back clean preceded a textbook Russian jerk. ZHOU Lulu (CHN) cleaned 182 on her 2nd, this time with the bar about 4 cm below her clavicles. She muscled the barbell up to her shoulders before making another powerful jerk, but you could see she was drained by the clean. ZHOU was up by six kilos at this point. For some reason or other the Chinese let Kashirina go to 190, two kilos more than necessary for gold and two kilos over the world record. Kashirina Tatiana (RUS) cleaned the 190 like it was 10 kilos below her best. She jerked it with ease. The Chinese were clearly stunned by this turn of events. A lift of 184 probably would have put gold out of reach but apparently they did not expect Kashirina capable of 188 let alone 190. With the gold in hand and a new world record Kashirina went to 192. The motivation obviously gone she was unable to shoulder this weight.