Two Georgians have never stood on one pedestal at the Olympic Games in history of the Georgian sport. Georgian weightlifters Lasha Talakhadze and Irakli Turmanidze wrote the recent history. The days of weightlifting at Rio 2016 finished with +105 kg and the national anthem of Georgia. European and world champion Lasha Talakhadze added Olympic gold medal to his titles at the age of 22. Besides that, Talakhadze beat Rezazadeh’s world record which he set 16 years ago. The Georgian weightlifter was 22 kg ahead of silver medalist Gor Minasyan of Armenia. Last year’s European champion Irakli Turmanidze won bronze medal.
When judoka Varlam Liparteliani lost final on August 10, the Georgian fans hoped that Lasha Talakhadze would win gold medal. The members of the Georgian delegation already talked about August 16. The specialists also named Talakhadze one of the main favorites with Behdad Salimi Kordasiabi of Iran. The latter has not shown up on the international arena during the last year.
Pre-ordered weights of the athletes were found out shortly before the beginning of the competition. The Iranian ordered higher starting weights. Talakhadze started snatch with 205 kg and Salimi Kordasiabi with 206 kg. In clean and jerk Talakhadze ordered 242 kg and the Iranian - 245 kg.
Turmanidze was also in Group A. The Georgian started with low weight but it was a good tactical move of the coaching staff.
Snatch
Turmanidze lifted 197 kg on the first attempt, 203 kg on the second and 207 kg on the third. He was in the fourth place. It was a great pleasure to watch Talakhadze and Salimi Kordasiabi’s duel. The Georgian weightlifter lifted 205 kg and the Iranian – 206 kg. Then, Lasha lifted 210 kg and Behdad – 211 kg. On the third attempt Lasha Talakhadze beat Salimi Kordasiabi’s record – the Georgian lifted 215 kg. However, the Iranian set a new record in two minutes – 216 kg.
Clean and jerk
Irakli Turmanidze started clean and jerk with 228 kg which was a great risk to lose position but he lifted 235 kg on the second attempt and 241 kg on the third one. Turmanidze had a chance to take the third place if any his opponent failed to lift barbell on all three attempts. It seemed unreal, especially when Gor Minasyan lifted 241 kg and was 3 kg ahead of Turmanidze.
Lasha Talakhadze changed pre-ordered weight (240 kg) and lifted 242 kg. Behdad Salimi Kordasiabi lifted 245 kg but the referees changed their decision and did not count his weight. Talakhadze ordered 252 kg for the second attempt. The Iranian did not take a risk and tried to lift 245 kg again but in vain. The Iranian fans got angry. On the third attempt their idol tried to lift the same weight but in vain. Lasha Talakhadze guaranteed Olympic medal and Turmanidze had a real chance to get in Top 3. The only thing he needed was Ruben Aleksanyan’s unsuccessful second attempt. And it happened!
The culmination of the Olympic weightlifting was the third attempt of the current champion – Talakhadze ordered 258 kg and if he lifted it, he would set new world record.
The angry Iranian fans tried to obstruct Talakhadze and started making a noise. But Talakhadze lifted barbell without any problem. Success which we were waiting for a long time turned out to be more impressive than we expected – two Georgians stood on the Olympic pedestal together!
“I am the happiest person. I made my dream come true and became an Olympic champion. Besides that, I was standing on the pedestal with my friend and teammate Irakli Turmanidze” – Lasha Talakhadze told worldsport.ge
Irakli Turmanidze’s brief comment:
“It was my second Olympic Games. I used all my attempts, set personal records and I am happy that my hard work paid off. Lasha Talakhadze is the best in the world and he proved it again”.
Otar Maglakelidze, special correspondent of worldsport.ge in Rio de Janeiro
