|
Weightlifting, the sport of moving heavy things from the floor to over your head. A sport of strength, but also mobility and balance. The best way to flex your broceps at the Olympics. So, how much do they bench? It's not like that. The sport is this: weightlifters go up to a plate-loaded barbell on a 4m x 4m platform to lift it. There are two competition lifts: the snatch, moving the weight from floor to overhead in a single motion, and the clean and jerk, where you are allowed to rest the bar on your shoulders before you go overhead. Each athlete gets three attempts for each lift, and the barbell weight can only go up. The combined total from two successful lifts is the way olympic medals are assigned. Sounds boring? Well, it's not. Since you see what your immediate rival is attempting, you and your coaching staff can strategize around the weights, for instance by going up and forcing your opponent to repeat his failed lift with a meager 120 seconds of rest - lending an additional drama level to the weightlifting metagame. And there's loads of drama, as the lifts are also judged on legality - it won't do to just get the weight overhead, you also have to control it, and this includes not pressing it out to finish the lift. Expect lots of controversy here. ...so, what you're saying is I could outbench those guys? Probably not. These people are incredibly fit - especially in the lower divisions - and unbelievably strong; many of them could smoke three-four plates their literal first time benching. There are multiple weight categories, which I will briefly describe. There are also things called sessions A and B - athletes with a lower stated total lift in the B session so it doesn't take so long. Usually, the A session is where the fireworks happen but occasionally a strong athlete will lift in the B session to just go out and lift their best instead of engaging in the tactical mindgames, and sneak into a medal position. What else? Well, this year, due to the rampant PED usage in the sport, the IOC only allowed a certain amount of spots for each country, 4 per gender; countries which were caught doing state doping get fewer spots. Consequently, a lot of top competitors didn't actually make it into the olympics even though they weren't caught doping. RIP Loredana Toma and Tian Tao. Also, North Korea didn't send their athletes citing covid concerns, which is a shame cos their athletes were juicy. On the other hand, this opens some categories to upsets! Categories and competitors In general, if you see a Chinese athlete in a category, that's a bona-fide favorite for the gold. Lower categories are ruled by Asian nations, and higher categories by ex-Soviet nations. In between, be on a lookout for some awesome South American lifters. Categories in order of appearance: Women's -49kg, 24 Jul   This will be a battle between Hou Zhihui, CHI and Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, IND. Hou is a snatch and total world record holder, while Mirabai is a clean and jerk specialist with a 119kg lift to her name. Yes, that's a 49kg woman lifting 119kg. Men's -61kg, 25 Jul  Li Fabin with his typical lifting technique Much like W49, this is a battle between Li Fabin, CHI and Eko Yuli Irawan, INA. Expect a close battle here! Men's -67kg, 25 Jul  This category gutted by no-shows and steroid pops, we've got Chen Lijun, CHI and Luis Javier Mosquera Lozano, COL as the two favorites. Women's -55kg, 26 Jul  Liao Qiuyun, CHI is a strong medal favorite here. Women's -59kg, 27 Jul  This category is ruled by the one and only technique marvel Kuo Hsing-Chun, from Taiwan. I mean Chinese Taipei. With Deng Wei out due to injury, she is the undisputed queen of weightlifting at the 2020 Olympics. When I grow up, I wanna be just like her. We were deprived of an amazing battle by no-shows here; as it stands, here's a game to make this category more interesting - try to guess which medal Kuo's total would win in the heavier categories, and whether she will total 250kg. Women's -64kg, 27 Jul  Due to no-show from Deng Wei, it might even be gold. That being said, one shouldn't underestimate Maude Charron, CAN, Mercedes Isabel Prez Tigreros, COL or even Sarah Davies, GBR. A very competitive category, and guaranteed underdog win. Men's -73kg, 28 Jul  This category is simple. First, there will be an awesome, close knit battle between the likes of Bozhidar Andreev, BUL and Clarence Cummings, USA. Then, after they're done Shi "Chad Thundercock" Zhiyong, CHI pictured above will walk out, curse on the stage while he's lifting his opener and win a snatch gold. The same will happen in the clean and jerk. It is hard to overstate just how ridiculously good Shi Zhiyong is, so have two videos of him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJPkZscgJhw and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWhlVk2joJU. If not for a very special yet-to-appear Georgian, this would definitely be a men's side highlight... Men's -81kg, 31 Jul  This one promises to be a cracker. You got the soon-to-be 37 year old Lu Xiaojun, CHI, the man, the myth, the legend, looking for one last gold medal, the champion that he is. But it won't be easy: Antonino Pizzolato, ITA and Brayan Rodallegas, COL will be looking for any gap in the armor of the aging champ. And there are some to be had: Lu is known for being a squat jerker, meaning he squats down to receive the bar overhead instead of splitting his legs. This requires immense strength and precision to pull off, and consequently, any misses by Lu will heat the category up. Men's -96kg, 31 Jul  Another cracker, this one will have "Meso" Fares Ibrahim Saed Hassouna El-Bakh, QAT lifting against Anton Pliesnoi, GEO. In the absence of barrel-man Tian Tao, my money's on Meso. Women's -76kg, 1 Aug  With all the no-shows, this one promises to be very open, with no super-clear favorites. Check Katherine Nye, USA and Neisi Patricia Barrera Dajomes, ECU in particular. Women's -87kg, 2 Aug  Another category where the CHI, Wang Zhouyu lifter is looking set on gold medal course. But the likes of Lydia Valentin, SPA and Mattie Rogers, USA will be looking to make their impact too. Women's 87+kg, 2 Aug  The female heavyweight winner is all but certain to be Li Wenwen, CHI; she is likely to outlift her competitors by 30-50 kg. That's a woman that clean and jerks 187kg like it's nothing. That said, the silver medal promises to be interesting, with Sarah Robles, USA competing against Laurel Hubbard, NZL, who is likely to become the first transgender olympic medalist. Men's -109kg, 3 Aug  Deprived of Ilya Ilyin, this category is looking good for Simon Martirosyan, ARM. But Ilya wins it in my heart. Men's 109+kg, 4 Aug  And finally, the grand finale. And this time, it really will be grand. Lasha Talakhadze, GEO is the gold medal winner, this is not in question. What is in question is this: will this svelte 170kg 2m tall behemoth of a man be the first man to total 500kg, a nice half ton? We will find out soon! dex_sda fucked around with this message at 14:50 on Jul 23, 2021 |
#
?
Jul 23, 2021 14:48
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 26, 2024 08:18 |
|
|
Lots of controversy around the trans woman from NZ competing in a sport where women have never shown evidence of ever having testosterone levels outside of a standard deviation of the average cis woman...
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2021 15:00
|
|
|
Let's go Lu let's go Lasha Ain't nothing to it but to do it
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2021 15:01
|
|
|
For real though weightlifting rules and in all honesty I'm cheering for the same thing this year as I do every year, which is that nobody cripples themself live on international tv
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2021 15:01
|
|
|
I'm really sad for Loredana Toma, it's unfair that in this sport where everyone in the A group is on dope she doesn't get to go because romania gets caught too often. Oh well
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2021 15:15
|
|
|
Weightlifting owns. It was easily my favorite watch of the last summer games and I hope this guy is back because he was awesome https://i.imgur.com/tOQSDxT.mp4
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2021 15:37
|
|
|
It's really wild when you consider that the women's super-heavyweight category is weak as poo poo overall anyway. Women's weightlifting is not a popular sport to invest in anyway, and fat women least of all. So you only have China, Russia, and North-Korea who have credible competitors. North-Korea is out all together, Russia might've been able to send someone under a neutral flag despite being banned for systemic doping violations, but Kashirina got a personal suspension for doping violations again, so she's out too. The only real question is how embarrassingly huge the Chinese competitor's lead over second place is going to be. In a sport where it's not a question if anyone will get caught doping, but how many disqualifications we'll see this time. But sure, the trans women in the least competitive category, totaling some 50 kgs below the world record, which would barely get you in the A group in the lightest men's category, is somehow spoiling the competition. Unlike the entire women's 2012 -75kg podium getting disqualified after retesting positive for instance.
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 00:53
|
|
|
the womens 49kg is meant to have started and i cant find it anywhere
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 02:06
|
|
|
Lid posted:the womens 49kg is meant to have started and i cant find it anywhere I can't either and I have access to like 8 channels showing various events. It's only the B group so maybe they're not televising it?
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 02:15
|
|
|
CBC's got it  
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 02:18
|
|
|
So does eurosport
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 02:26
|
|
|
Mine just started too.
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 02:29
|
|
|
BlindSite posted:I can't either and I have access to like 8 channels showing various events. It's only the B group so maybe they're not televising it? I'm using the NBC app on a fire stick
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 02:33
|
|
|
Coasterphreak posted:I'm using the NBC app on a fire stick 7 network here in Aus has a bunch for free. Just need an email and a postcode to sign up if you have a VPN. 7plus.com.au
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 02:36
|
|
|
What a fight on that squat jerk wow
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 02:51
|
|
|
dex_sda posted:What a fight on that squat jerk wow Gutsy effort. You love to see it.
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 02:54
|
|
|
BlindSite posted:I can't either and I have access to like 8 channels showing various events. It's only the B group so maybe they're not televising it? If you're in the US NBCOlympics.com streams all the OBS feeds of every event. https://www.nbcolympics.com/full-schedule I've been told the NBCSports app has every event as well.
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 02:57
|
|
|
BlindSite posted:Gutsy effort. You love to see it. Yes, also good to see at least this session the judges weren't insanely strict on the pressout, that could get two reds on some competitions despite clearly being a good lift. Great session, lots of different techniques on display. We're in for a treat
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 03:03
|
|
|
There seems to be no audio on Women's 49kg Group B - this isn't just me, is it?
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 03:18
|
|
|
Kestral posted:There seems to be no audio on Women's 49kg Group B - this isn't just me, is it? I just had the lifters and live audio - no commentary too. I assume they'll have the full for the medals later.
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 03:22
|
|
|
My feed is telling me the finals won't start for another 20 mins?
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 05:32
|
|
|
Edit: Nevermind, got it! Let's go, women's weightlifting!
Kestral fucked around with this message at 06:00 on Jul 24, 2021 |
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 05:57
|
|
|
who's the favourite in this one?
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 06:10
|
|
|
Yeah nina, good comeback!
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 06:18
|
|
|
WE HAVE CONTROVERSEY
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 06:31
|
|
|
That was bullshit
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 06:32
|
|
|
What was that bullshit?
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 06:33
|
|
|
Bullshit confirmed.
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 06:34
|
|
|
Gonna take something special for the american lady to win rom here. Insane opening from the Chinese lady. Didn't look in doubt for a second.
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 06:41
|
|
|
The Chinese lady basically power snatched she's insane
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 06:48
|
|
|
MOVIE MAJICK posted:The Chinese lady basically power snatched she's insane Absolutely crazy.
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 06:55
|
|
|
Taiwan number one (-oh-one), let's go Fang Wan-ling
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 07:07
|
|
|
This nina chick seems just a little under done for this meet. Probably slay out for years to come. Good experience for her anyway.
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 07:07
|
|
|
Yeah, feeling bad for Nina, poor kid. Also: she started as a gymnast  Looking forward to seeing her back on the big stage in 2024, keep it up Nina. Edit: Windy Aisah goddamn Kestral fucked around with this message at 07:17 on Jul 24, 2021 |
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 07:11
|
|
|
drat lets go Indonesia
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 07:16
|
|
|
American girl is choking
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 07:19
|
|
|
Feel bad for Jourdan ;,[
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 07:21
|
|
|
gently caress yeah, indonesian lady. Thats awesome.
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 07:24
|
|
|
The indian lady smashing all the records to snatch the gold would be amazing.
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 07:27
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 26, 2024 08:18 |
|
|
BlindSite posted:The indian lady smashing all the records to snatch the gold would be amazing. She can't her snatch weight was too low (and wow, what a sentence)
|
|
#
?
Jul 24, 2021 07:29
|
|