Olivia Reeves, Karlos Nasar Shine at IWF World Championships, Breaking Asia's Dominance

Posted : 13 December 2024

At the IWF World Championships in Bahrain, Olympic champions Olivia Reeves of the United States and Karlos Nasar of Bulgaria delivered stunning performances, breaking Asia’s winning streak in the competition. Reeves, who recently graduated with a sociology degree, secured her first senior world title in the 71kg category. Nasar, meanwhile, dazzled in the 89kg division, breaking two world records and nearly achieving two more, as he lifted an astounding 225kg. Although his momentum caused the bar to drop off the platform, Nasar’s achievements solidified his reputation as a weightlifting prodigy.

Reeves’ victory marked a historic moment, as she became the first American woman to win both Olympic and World Championship golds in weightlifting. Her consistent performance underlined her dominance, particularly against athletes from powerhouse nations like China and North Korea. Despite facing challenges during her preparation, Reeves executed an impressive 120-147-267 total, narrowly missing her career best. Her coach, Mike Gattone, praised her remarkable consistency, highlighting her resilience throughout a demanding Olympic qualification cycle. Reeves plans to continue her weightlifting career while pursuing a master’s degree in public health.

Karlos Nasar, still only 20 years old, further demonstrated his extraordinary talent by surpassing the junior world records in snatch and total. His 183-222-405 performance eclipsed the previous records held by Colombia’s Yeison Lopez and Nasar himself. In the clean and jerk, North Korea’s Ro Kwang Ryol made a significant comeback to secure silver, while China’s Pan Yunhua clinched bronze. Moldova’s Marin Robu and Uzbekistan’s Sarvarbek Zafarjonov also delivered commendable performances, securing podium finishes in other categories.

The women’s competition showcased thrilling rivalries, with Reeves outperforming China’s Yang Qiuxia and North Korea’s Jong Chun Hui. Yang led the snatch but fell short in clean and jerk, finishing third. Jong’s struggles with consistency left her in second place behind Reeves. Iceland’s Eyglo Sturludottir narrowly missed out on her nation’s first World Championships medal, finishing fourth with a career-best total. Despite PRK’s dominance in earlier events, the day’s results highlighted the rising competitiveness of athletes from diverse nations, setting the stage for an exciting future in weightlifting.

Olivia Reeves, Karlos Nasar Shine at IWF World Championships, Breaking Asia's Dominance

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