Women's +75kg

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Women's 2008 Olympic Weightlifting competition wrapped up today with 11 lifters taking to the platform. Four segments will be aired on CNBC tonight at midnight, EDT.

Winner Jang (KOR) made all 6 attempts successfully. She did 130-136-140 in the Snatch, then started with 175 in the C&J. This attempt established a new Olympic record in the Total at 315kg. She then made 183 and 186, establishing new world and Olympic records on each attempt.

At 400lbs plus the bar bend is starting to get pretty extreme. Weights were attached all the way to the end of the sleeve (the women's bar is shorter,thinner, and lighter). Years ago, when the topic of a smaller diameter barbell came up (for men's lightest classes) I was told by YORK representatives that a smaller diameter (but not necessarily shorter or lighter) bar would permanently deflect at 125kg. At the time, I doubt YORK or anyone else wanted to invest in the tooling necessary to create thinner bars.

The women's bar is 25mm in diameter, the men's 28mm. As women approach 200kg in the C&J there may be a need to allow larger women to use the men's bar.

Opeloge of Samoa was impressive in her execution and nearly pulled off a bronze medal performance. A number of women had a good shot at third place, but the competition was so tight that only two lifters made their 3rd C&J.

USA's Cheryl Haworth finished sixth with a 259kg Total, failing in her attempt to Clean 150kg.