Light-Heavyweight (≤69 kilograms), Women

The favorite was China’s Liu Chunhong, the world record holder and 2003 World Champion. Second to her at the 2003 Worlds was Hungarian Eszter Krutzler. The top Russian in the past few years was Valentina Popova, 2000 Olympic silver medalist as a middleweight, but she competed as a heavyweight in Athinai, and was replaced on the Russian team by Zarema Kasayeva. Another contender might have been the 2002 World Champion, Pawina Thongsuk of Thailand, but she also moved up in weight in Athinai, and won gold as a heavyweight.

Liu won the gold medal in Athinai quite comfortably with the best lift in both the snatch and clean & jerk, breaking her total world record with 275.0 kg. Her clean & jerk, recorded as 152.5 kg, was actually 153.0 kg for another world record. Behind Liu, Krutzler and Kasayeva tied, both lifting 117.5 kg in the snatch and 145.0 kg in the clean & jerk, with Krutzler getting the silver medal based on lower bodyweight.