Super-Heavyweight (>105 kilograms), Men

As winner of the last two World Championships and the last four Asian Championships/Games, Behdad Salimi of Iran was a strong favorite to take home gold in the men’s super-heavyweight division of the weightlifting tournament at the 2012 Summer Olympics and claim the title of “world’s strongest man”. Challenging him would be defending Olympic champion Matthias Steiner of Germany and Ruslan Albegov of Russia, the reigning European Champion. Salimi’s compatriot Sajjad Anoushiravani was also in the running for a medal as runner-up at the most recent World Championships and bronze medalist at the 2012 Asian Championships and 2010 Asian Games.

In the snatch, Salimi and Albegov both lifted 208 kg and, by virtue of his far lighter body weight, gave the Russian a slight advantage going into the clean and jerk. Only two other competitors managed weights of over 200 kg: Anoushiravani (204 kg) and Irak’li Turmanidze of Georgia (201 kg). Steiner lifted 192 kg on his first lift and then went for 196 kg for his second attempt, but was unsuccessful and, as he dropped the weight, it came down on the back of his neck. Although he was not seriously injured in the accident, he was unable to compete any further and dropped out. In the clean and jerk Anoushiravani took an early lead with a 237 kg lift and was soon followed by Albegov, who lifted 240 kg to take first place. The Iranian responded with a 245 kg lift to retake the gold medal position while Jeon Sang-Gyun of South Korea, 2010 Asian Games runner-up and 2011 world bronze medalist, lifted 246 kg to slide into the final podium spot. Salimi then entered with a successful attempt at 247 kg, enough to give him a six point lead in the competition. Albegov was unable to match this and thus remained in third, albeit a comfortable 12 points head of Jeon, the only remaining competitor who could knock him off the podium. While he was waiting, Anoushiravani tried a 251 kg lift to pass Salimi but was unsuccessful, settling for silver. Jeon returned with the 259 kg attempt he needed to pass Albegov, but failed and was left out of the medals. Salimi, now guaranteed gold, chose 264 kg for his second lift and tried to surpass the world record for the clean and jerk. Unsuccessful, he bowed out of a third attempt and went home an Olympic champion.