Olivia Reeves delivered a historic performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, winning the United States’ first gold medal in weightlifting in 24 years. The 21-year-old from Hixson, Tennessee, claimed victory in the women’s 71-kg division, marking a significant milestone for American weightlifting.
Reeves lifted a total of 262 kilograms (577 pounds), overcoming nerves to outperform her competitors. She set an Olympic record with a 117-kg (258 pounds) snatch and followed it with a 145-kg (320 pounds) clean and jerk, securing the gold by a 5-kg margin over silver medalist Mari Leivis Sanchez of Colombia. Angie Dajomes of Ecuador took home the bronze.
Despite her attempt to treat the Olympics like any other competition, Reeves acknowledged the unique pressure of the event. “I got more nervous than all the others,” she admitted. However, her focus and determination were evident as she successfully completed five of her six lifts, missing only a 150-kg clean and jerk attempt after already clinching the gold.
Reeves’ triumph is the first Olympic gold for the U.S. in weightlifting since Tara Nott’s victory at the Sydney 2000 Games, which was the inaugural Olympics to feature women’s weightlifting. Reeves hopes her win will inspire future generations of female weightlifters in the U.S.
In a parallel story of resilience and triumph, Bulgarian weightlifter Karlos Nasar won gold in the men’s 89-kg division, setting two world records. Just over a year after a freak accident severed his Achilles tendon, Nasar lifted a combined total of 404 kilograms (891 pounds) to secure his Olympic title.
Both Reeves and Nasar’s victories underscore the spirit of perseverance and excellence that define the Olympic Games, making their stories highlights of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
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