A second Chen with a third Weightlifting gold for China

(BEIJING, August 11) -- Spectators might have thought they were experiencing déjà vu when they witnessed another Chinese lifter surnamed Chen dominate the Weightlifting final on August 11. This time it was defending Olympic champion Chen Yanqing, who retained her title in Women's 58 kilogram Weightlifting with a total of 244kg.
Chen's confident and steady performance throughout the final was as remarkable as the amount she lifted. Before Chen stepped onto the floor, the best result for the Snatch was 99kg from Ecuador's Alexandra Escobar, followed by three lifters tied at 98kg. However, their efforts were dwarfed by Chen's first attempt of 100kg. Chen succeeded without any trouble and continued to lift 106kg after three attempts, establishing an early lead of seven kilograms.
The Clean and Jerk round became a one-woman show for Chen. She took the gold medal with her first attempt of 130kg and went on to break her own Olympic record of total weight with a stunning 138kg lift, also the new Olympic record for the Clean and Jerk.
Russia's Marina Shainova lifted 129kg just six seconds before the time ran out and took the silver medal with a total weight of 227kg. O Jong-ae of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea lifted 131kg with her last attempt, tying her total weight with Thailand's Wandee Kameaim and taking the bronze medal thanks to a slightly lower pre-competition weigh-in.