Turkish Countrymen Give Mutlu a Lift

Despite failing on his first attempt in the clean-and-jerk, when he fouled while trying to lift 336.2 pounds, Halil Mutlu of Turkey won the first weightlifting gold medal of the Games.

Mutlu, competing in the 119-pound division, succeeded on his second try at 336.2 pounds and then lifted 341.7 on his final lift at the Georgia World Congress Center.

“I am so excited,” he said through an interpreter. “Come and see me tomorrow and I can tell you how I feel. It’s a beautiful thing. . . . I did this for the 65 million people in Turkey.”

Mutlu’s combined total in the snatch and clean-and-jerk was 633.81 pounds. He lifted 291.1 on his final try in the snatch, breaking the record of 287.7 pounds he set March 5, 1995.

China’s Zhang Xiangsen, trying to lift 347.2 pounds, and Lan Shizhang, trying 358.2 for what would have been a world record in the clean-and-jerk, both had a chance to win the gold but failed. Zhang won the silver with a total of 617.29 pounds, and Sevdalin Minchev of Bulgaria won the bronze at 611.78. Lan was fourth at 606.27.

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MEDALISTS / Weightlifting

54KG (119 POUNDS)

Gold: Halil Mutlu, Turkey

Silver: Zhang Xiangsen, China

Bronze: Sevdalin Minchev, Bulgaria