The Competition for weightlifting gold event at the 2024 Olympics, which Eko Yuli Irawan participated in, enlivened by Southeast Asian lifters.
Eko, who is aiming for a fifth Olympic medal, will compete with 11 athletes from other countries consisting of one American lifter, two from Oceania, three European lifters and five Asian athletes.
Of the five Eko competitors from Asia, four of them are representatives of Southeast Asia, namely Mohamad Aniq Bin Kasdan (Malaysia), John Febuar Ceniza (Philippines), Theerapong Silachai (Thailand), and Trinh Van Vinh (Vietnam).
Eko is very familiar with the Olympic podium. Since the first time he took part in a world sporting event, Eko has never failed to raise the red and white flag on the podium.
There are already four Olympic medals in Eko’s awards cabinet. The 35 year old man born in Lampung is also the Indonesian athlete with the most Olympic medals.
Bronze in the 56 kilogram class was his introduction to an Olympic medal in 2008. Four years later, Eko won bronze again in the 62 kilogram class. Meanwhile, he won his first silver at the 2016 Olympics when he competed again in the 62 kilogram class. Three years ago, the silver record was repeated again in the 61 kilogram class.
Now Eko has the opportunity to sharpen this record in Paris. The first Indonesian to appear five times in a row at the Olympics returned to compete in the men’s 61 kilogram class.
Eko will compete with old rival Li Fabin who holds the record for clean & jerk and total lift in the 61 kilogram class.
Apart from that, Eko will compete with debutants at the Olympics who have the ambition to win medals in their first participation.
Looking at the force data submitted before the match, Li Fabin was Eko’s toughest opponent. Apart from that, there is Sergio Massida from Italy. Just like Eko, the two lifters set a total lift target of 310 kilograms.
