The 2023 World Weightlifting Championships have wrapped up after two weeks of intense action, which saw multiple World Records fall. While the majority of those who set new records went home with one, Jiang Huihua put up an even more impressive performance, managing to set two World Records. Being one of China’s most dominant athletes, Jiang easily won the 49-kilogram weight class, and put up the heaviest Clean & Jerk and Total in the history of her division.
Jiang Huihua first set a humongous 120-kilogram (264.6-pound) Clean & Jerk World Record, making it look fairly easy. She first pulled the barbell explosively, allowing her to quickly duck underneath it and get into a front squat position. Jiang then rose into an upright position before easily jerking the barbell above her head. Moreover, she only utilized some knee and wrist protection, alongside a lifting belt, to complete her very stable lift.
The previous U49KG Clean & Jerk World Record belonged to Saikhom Mirabai Chanu from India, as she previously lifted 119 kilograms (262.4 pounds) at the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships.
Watch the Clean & Jerk here:
Jiang Huihua’s Full Performance
Having successfully completed all six of her attempts, Jiang Huihua basically put in a perfect performance at the 2023 World Weightlifting Championships. Apart from claiming two World Records in the Clean & Jerk and Total events, Jiang almost set the third record in the Snatch event as well. However, her final attempt was just 1-kilogram (2.2 pounds) short of the official heaviest U49KG Snatch ever.
Snatch
- 89 kilograms (196.2 pounds)
- 93 kilograms (205 pounds)
- 95 kilograms (209.4 pounds)
Clean & Jerk
- 112 kilograms (246.9 pounds)
- 117 kilograms (257.9 pounds)
- 120 kilograms (264.6 pounds) — U49KG World Record
Total — 215 kilograms (474 pounds) — U49KG World Record
*Hou Zhihui held the old U49KG Total World Record of 213 kilograms (469.6 pounds), which she set at the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships.
2023 World Weightlifting Championships — U49KG Podium (Per Total)
- Jiang Huihua (CHN) — 215 kilograms (474 pounds)
- Hou Zhihui (CHN) — 211 kilograms (465.2 pounds)
- Jourdan Delacruz (USA) — 200 kilograms (440.9 pounds)
To win the 2023 World Weightlifting Championships, Jiang Huihua had to outperform the 2020 Olympic Champion, Hou Zhihui. So, having managed to beat Hou, and break her Total World Record, Jiang is currently China’s greatest pick for the 2024 Olympic Games. There are still some factors to unfold, but it has to be noted that Jiang is absolutely amazing right now.
Published: 17 September, 2023 | 5:07 PM EDT
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