Powerlifter Lasha Talakhadze set three world records during the finals of the Men’s +109-kg category.
The Olympic Games is a time for athletes in many different sports from all around the world to show off what they can do. On the biggest stage, Georgian weightlifter Lasha Talakhadze did just that. On Wednesday, Talakhadze set three world records during the finals of the +109-kg category.
Talakhadze totaled 488kg (1,075.8lb) in two lifts. It began with a 223-kg (491.6lb) snatch followed by a 265-kg (584.2) clean & jerk. All three were good for new world records as the 27-year-old notched his second gold medal at the Olympic Games. He also finished at the top during the 2016 Games in Rio.
Lasha Talakhadze took to Instagram to celebrate his newest gold medal.
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Ali Davoudi of Iran finished as the silver medalist while Syria’s Man Assad took home the bronze. At this point, Talakhadze seems to be in a league of his on. He dominated his way through his lifts by performing three consecutive in each round and did not miss any of his six attempts. Talakhadze set new Olympic records with each lifts and broke his own world records on the final attempt in each round.
Is Lasha Talakhadze the best powerlifter in the world? It is hard to argue against a reigning two-time Olympic champion but he has seen great success in other competitions. Talakhadze has finished at the top in every international event he has competed in since 2015. He has won five times at the European Championships and four times at the World Championships. Prior to 2015, Talakhadze picked up international victories at the European Junior Championships in 2011 and Junior World Championships in 2013.
Talakhadze had to serve a two-year ban for testing positive for stanozolol in 2013 but he has made up for it and them some. He has totaled nine records in the snatch, four in the clean & jerk, and eight overall.
This is not the end of the road for Lasha Talakhadze and why would it be? He has dominated for six years now since returning from his suspension. Talakhadze will more than likely enter the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris as the favorite looking to make some more noise and potentially set new records once again. Talakhadze has been at the top of the sport and it is looking like he is not going to fall anytime soon.
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