IWF120y/84 – 2008: Chen Yanqing (CHN) – fighting against all odds

This is the successful story of a lifter who could have remained in the most strict anonymity but ended up being the first Chinese female athlete in our Sport to win two (consecutive) Olympic gold medals. Born in 1979 in a remote part of China – in a tiny farming village called Xishan, on an island near Suzhou, two hours away from Shanghai – the modest conditions of the family didn’t allow Chen Yanqing to have big dreams concerning her future. She had however one quality: she was physically strong! At 10, she is spotted by a local coach and is sent to a state athletic school to continue her education and training. Significant international results appear some years later – gold at the 1997 and 1999 IWF World Championships (photo), and also a victory at the 1998 Asian Games. Despite these achievements, she is not called to the Chinese national team competing at the Sydney 2000 Olympics – where, for the first time, women were admitted to the event. This decision was painful for Chen, who decided to retire and dedicate some years to her education, a Business Management degree in Suzhou. Things could have ended here concerning her weightlifting story, but the Chinese ace still wanted to prove she could shine at the Olympic level. She qualifies for the 2004 rendezvous in Athens and gets her first gold in the 58kg category, in 107.5-130-237.5. Four years later, on home soil, she does even better, revalidating in Beijing her title in 106-138-244 – this was an impressive outcome in this category, as she lifted 18kg more than the silver medallist! After Chen’s feats, only two other Chinese female lifters have earned so far two Olympic gold medals: Li Wenwen and Hou Zhihui, both in Tokyo 2020ne and Paris 2024.