By Julian Linden, OCA Media
Nagoya, Japan, September 29, 2026: Already the strongest woman in the world, Li Wenwen claimed the one title missing from her impressive CV as China swept the last two gold medals in women’s weightlifting to finish level with DPR Korea as the leading nations in the female categories.
Nicknamed "Big Baby", Li overcame her great Korean rival Park Hye-jeong to win the women’s super heavyweight (+86 kilograms) division at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center on Tuesday with lifts of 140kg in snatch and 170kg in clean and jerk for a total of 310kg.
Already a double Olympic gold medallist and two-time world champion, this was Li’s first gold at the Asian Games and the 26-year-old celebrated wildly, jumping on to the top step of the podium for the ceremony to receive her medal.
“I have done a very good job today, I came here just for this medal,” she said.
“On the stage we are rivals, competitors, but off the stage we are very good friends.”
While overjoyed with her win, Li, who sleeps on the floor during competitions because she says it makes her feel "safer", said her celebrations would be short lived because she was already looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028.
“I will rest for one or two days and then prepare myself better for the Olympic Games,” she said.
“If you follow my social media you will see; always on the floor at competitions. I sleep on the floor. I feel safer. We are staying on the cruise ship. I am sleeping very well.”
Park, who won gold at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games and silver behind Li at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finished second with a combined lift of 300kg. The bronze went to Oisal Ikhlef of Qatar (273kg).
United in their passion for the sport, all three women shared positive messages for any young Asian girls thinking of taking up weightlifting.
“Do what you love,” Li said, while Park added: “Just try and don’t be afraid.”
Ikhlef said: “In the world, things are changing, women are making progress in the world of sports. People may have different opinions but what is important, not just with weightlifting but all sports, is that women should be strong.”
*China had earlier won gold in the women’s heavyweight (86kg) class.
Wu Yan, the 2024 world champion, sealed her victory on her second attempt in the clean and jerk when she hoisted 149kg over her head for a total of 273kg.
Alina Marushchak of Bahrain (272kg) collected the silver, while the bronze went to Mahsa Beheshty of Iran (259kg).
“I came here to win the competition,” Wu said. “I can’t say I was absolutely confident but, when I was on the stage, I had confidence. Then I focused on my movement and the technique. In China they see the importance of weightlifting.”
