Team Qatar weightlifter Fares Ibrahim Elbakh made history on Saturday in the men’s 96kg weightlifting event at Tokyo 2020 as he won Qatar’s first-ever Olympic gold medal with an Olympic record-breaking combined lift of 402 kg.

Elbakh put in a dominant display as he lifted 177 kg in the snatch before setting an Olympic record with his clean and jerk lift of 225 kg. This was one of two Olympic records he broke alongside his combined lift of 402 kg. Elbakh attempted a world record 232 kg clean and jerk but fell short of being able to make the lift.

Congratulations to all of Qatar! Our weightlifter Ibrahim wins the gold medal 🥇 in the 96kg category at the Olympic Games - Tokyo 2020. 💪🇶🇦
.#WeAreTeamQatar pic.twitter.com/90gC8oGoIC

— Team Qatar 🇶🇦 (@qatar_olympic) July 31, 2021

This historic and hugely successful performance was a just reward for the dedication Elbakh has demonstrated in his preparations for Tokyo 2020. His training camp was extensive and he never took a break as he built for this iconic moment in Qatar’s sporting history.

Such was the strength of his performance none of his competitors could match him with Venezuela’s Keydomar Giovanni Vallenilla Sanchez claiming silver with a combined lift of 387kg and Georgia’s Anton Pliesnoi taking bronze after also scoring 387 kg but losing out on tie-breaking criteria.

Qatar win their first EVER Olympic gold medal! #QAT

Fares Elbakh wins a historic gold in the men’s 96kg final!@iwfnet | #StrongerTogether | #Tokyo2020 | #Weightlifting pic.twitter.com/338PhQ4AgC

— Olympics (@Olympics) July 31, 2021

Ibrahim is also a two-time World Championships medalist, has also won two gold medals at the World Youth Championships and a silver at the 2018 Asian games.

Source: Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), Olympics (Twitter)
Cover image credit: Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC)

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Vrinda Abilash

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