Phuket, Thailand, April 11, 2024: China’s Olympic champion Li Wenwen and Korean Park Hyejeong finished one-two in the women’s +87kg category at the International Weightlifting Federation World Cup on Wednesday, April 10 to clinch their berths for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Li, returning to action after being out for six months with an elbow injury, lifted 145kg in the snatch and 180kg in the clean and jerk to total 325kg.
The 21-year-old Park, who lost her mother to cancer a week ago, lifted 130-166-296 at the Phuket competition which is the final qualifying event for the Paris Olympics.
“It has been difficult, but I came because this is such an important competition,” Park said. “I know my mother would have wanted me to be here.”
Choi Sung Yong, President of the Korean Weightlifting Federation, said: “We worried quite a lot because she is young to handle these circumstances. But we trusted her to perform well. She prepared well for this competition. We are proud of her.”
Park failed to break the 300kg for the first time in her career, but pledged to do so in Paris. “I told you last time (at the Asian Championships) that I would make 300 for the first time in Thailand. I didn’t quite do it, but now I can tell you that I will make more than 300 in Paris.”
Li is ranked 29kg clear of Park and leads the Olympic Qualification Rankings. Park is second in the OQR.
