Asian Games: Iran’s ‘Iron Man’ breaks world’s oldest weightlifting record in Indonesia to conquer last remaining mark
The world record had stood since 1999 but was broken by Sohrab Moradi, who snatched gold in Indonesia
The near-20 year record, set by Greece’s Akakios Kakiasvilis at the 1999 world championships, fell when 29-year-old Moradi lifted 189kg on his way to a new Asian Games record total of 410kg, which comfortably earned him the gold medal.
He adds the snatch record to his other world leading marks of 233kg in clean and jerk and his 417kg total weight record.
Time had been running out for the “Iron Man” to sweep the records with proposed changes to weight classifications set to be implemented before the next Olympics qualifying cycle, which starts after the Indonesia Games are concluded.
Moradi failed in his first attempt at the world mark, but successfully conquered the 189kg snatch in his next attempt.
The reigning Olympic champion served a two-year doping ban in 2013 after testing positive for banned painkiller methadone, but returned to dominate the sport following his suspension.