How weightlifting can make Olympic history in Paris – with help from three women from the world’s biggest countries

Weightlifting’s global popularity, allied with the prowess of three women from China, India and the United States, could help the sport to make a little bit of Olympic history at the South Paris Arena on Wednesday.

According to the renowned Olympic historian Bill Mallon, there has never been a result in any sport where all the medals went to India, China and the United States, the world’s biggest countries by population.

Hou Zhihui (CHN)

There were two occasions when all three nations won medals in boxing, in 2012 and 2020, said Mallon, a prolific author who co-founded the International Society of Olympic Historians. But four medals were awarded in those events – the beaten semi-finalists both won bronze – and the champion both times was from elsewhere.

A full podium of the ‘big three’ could happen on day one of weightlifting in the women’s 49kg category – although athletes from Thailand, Romania, Japan and elsewhere will be doing their best to make sure it does not.

China has the rankings leader and clear gold medal favourite Hou Zhihui, the Tokyo Olympic champion who broke the snatch world record in her final qualifier.

Mirabai Chanu (IND)

The next three places in the rankings are filled by three women on the same 200kg total: the Tokyo silver medallist Mirabai Chanu from India, the back-to-form American Jourdan Delacruz, and Surodchana Khambao from Thailand. Mihaela-Valentina Cambei from Romania and Rira Suzuki from Japan are close behind.

At the most recent World Youth Championships more than half (29 from 50) of the nations who entered won medals, and at the 2023 World Junior Championships it was 25 from 50. At the Tokyo Olympic Games, 24 nations won medals.

Jourdan Delacruz (USA)

Hou Zhihui, who qualified ahead of team-mate Jiang Huihua with a big performance at the IWF World Cup in Thailand in April, goes into the competition in positive mood.

During her preparations she praised her support team for giving her the chance of a second Olympic gold. “There is a saying that a good neighbour is better than a brother far off,” Hou said. “My coaches, doctors, and friends have all given me strong support both in terms of emotion as well as my professional skills. They always remind me to be happy, stay positive and smile every day. With a good mood, my training is more effective.” 

Surodchana Khambao (THA)

Chanu, who has recovered after injury problems during qualifying, told the Indian media, “I can’t set a target. I will do what it takes and give my best to win a medal, but I can’t predict the colour.”

Mihaela Cambei (ROU)

Delacruz hopes to put the memories of Tokyo behind her. On her Olympic Games debut she was too concerned with how others were performing. She missed four attempts and failed to make a total.

This time the 26-year-old will focus only on herself rather than the competition. She even asked her coach Spencer Arnold and others not to show her the start list for Paris, USA Weightlifting reports.

Rira Suzuki (JPN)

“Historically, any competition I’ve medalled in, it’s been a bit of a surprise because I was more focused on myself rather than the competition,” Delacruz said.  “Once it was all over, I realised I got a medal. So that’s the approach we want to have in Paris.”

Arnold said, “What Jourdan has always done when she approaches really healthy, good competitions, it’s ‘I really want to snatch this and I want to clean and jerk this and total this’. So who cares where the field is, who cares what numbers they’re doing, what numbers they’re picking next?”

His message to Delacruz was, “Let’s make sure you’re proud of what you did, make sure you represent the country well, and let the chips fall where they might.”

By Brian Oliver

Photos by Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia