Weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics explained

Event:Weightlifting
Games:2020 Summer
Venue:Tokyo International Forum
Dates:24 July – 4 August 2021
Competitors:196
Nations:74
Num Events:14
Prev:2016
Next:2024

The weightlifting competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo took place from 24 July to 4 August 2021 at the Tokyo International Forum.

Competition schedule

Schedule[1] [2]
Date Jul 24 Jul 25 Jul 26 Jul 27 Jul 28 Jul 29 Jul 30 July 31 Aug 1 Aug 2 Aug 3 Aug 4
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F

Qualification

See main article: Weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Qualification.

The number of weightlifters at these Games was reduced to 196, down from 260 in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Furthermore, many countries had reduced squads, and four were excluded from weightlifting at these Games due to punishments given as a result of high numbers of historic doping offenses.

Changes

The total gold medal count was reduced from 15 to 14, with one men's event being eliminated.

In July 2018, IWF announced new official weight categories.[3]

Medalists

Men's

61 kg
313 kg 302 kg294 kg
67 kg
332 kg 331 kg322 kg
73 kg
364 kg 346 kg342 kg
81 kg
374 kg 367 kg365 kg
96 kg
402 kg 387 kg387 kg
109 kg
430 kg 423 kg410 kg
109+ kg
488 kg 441 kg424 kg

Women's

During the women's +87 competition, Laurel Hubbard made history by becoming the first transgender woman to compete in the Olympics.[4]

49 kg
210 kg 202 kg 194 kg
55 kg
224 kg 223 kg213 kg
59 kg
236 kg 217 kg214 kg
64 kg
236 kg232 kg230 kg
76 kg
263 kg249 kg245 kg
87 kg
270 kg263 kg256 kg
87+ kg
320 kg 283 kg282 kg

Controversies

Doping in weightlifting was highlighted during the Games due to historic problems in the sport.[5] [6] Due to corruption,[7] failed reforms of the International Weightlifting Federation,[8] and doping problems, the IOC is threatening to drop weightlifting entirely from the Olympics unless substantial reforms are made to the sport.[9]

Laurel Hubbard became the first openly transgender woman to compete in the Olympics. Her participation in the women’s heavyweight class sparked controversy over whether natal males have biological advantages in female sport.[10] [11] [12] [13]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Weightlifting Competition Schedule . Tokyo 2020 . 17 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Schedule - Weightlifting Tokyo 2020 Olympics . Olympian Database . 17 March 2020.
  3. Web site: 2018-07-06. Bodyweight categories unanimously accepted as IWF confirms plans to hold 2020 World Championships for non-Olympic divisions. 2021-08-06. www.insidethegames.biz.
  4. News: Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will be first trans athlete to compete at Olympics . 2 August 2021 . . 20 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210802040111/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jun/21/olympics-tokyo-laurel-hubbard-trans-weightlifter-new-zealand . 2 August 2021 . live.
  5. News: Junko. Fujita. Olympics-Weightlifting-Tokyo 2020 marked by firsts, but recent scandals cloud outlook. 2021-08-08. 2021-08-08. Reuters.
  6. Web site: Ingle . Sean . 6 January 2020 . IOC concerned by 'very serious' doping allegations in weightlifting . 2021-08-08 . The Guardian.
  7. Web site: Ingle . Sean . 2020-01-06 . IOC concerned by 'very serious' doping allegations in weightlifting . 2021-08-08 . The Guardian.
  8. News: Ognian. Georgiev. Ken. Belson. Weight Lifting, an Original Olympic Sport, May Be Dropped. 2021-07-28. 2021-08-08. The New York Times.
  9. Web site: Dunbar . Graham . 2021-08-08 . IOC gives itself more power to remove sports from Olympics . 2024-08-09 . AP News . en.
  10. News: Panja . Tariq . Belson . Ken . 2021-07-31 . Olympics' First Openly Transgender Woman Stokes Debate on Fairness . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-02-02 . 0362-4331.
  11. Web site: Young . Chris . 2 October 2021 . Transgender weightlifter's award generates massive controversy . 2023-02-02 . au.sports.yahoo.com . en-AU.
  12. News: Ingle . Sean . 2 August 2021 . End of Laurel Hubbard's Olympic dream but controversy around her will remain . 2023-02-02 . The Irish Times . en.
  13. Web site: Wamsley . Laurel . June 21, 2021 . New Zealand Weightlifter Will Be The First Openly Trans Competitor At The Olympics . .