Middleweight (≤63 kilograms), Women

Deng Wei of China, Tima Turieva of Russia, and Choe Hyo-Sim of North Korea had placed first, second, and third respectively at the last two editions of the women’s middleweight World Championships, with Turieva also having been the 2013 champion. All Russian weightlifters, however, were banned from Rio over doping concerns, which left Deng (the clean and jerk world record holder) and Choe the favorites in the event. This also meant that, due to Russia’s strong presence at the tournament, Italy’s Giorgia Bordignon (bronze in 2015 and 2016) was the only recent European medalist at the Games.

Deng tied the Olympic record 115 kg, only 2 kg off the world record, in the snatch portion, while Karina Goricheva of Kazakhstan was behind her at 111 kg. Thailand’s Rattikan Kulnoi was third after this element, with a lift of 108 kg; she had come fourth at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the lightweight division, although the original bronze medalist, Yuliya Kalina of Ukraine, had been disqualified over doping concerns. Choe, meanwhile, was well behind in fourth, with a lift of 105 kg. When Deng set World records for the clean and jerk and the total, at 147 and 262 kg respectively, she all but assured herself the gold medal. Goricheva, on the other hand, was unable to lift 137 kg in two attempts and posted a result of 132 kg, while Kulnoi failed three attempts at 132 kg and was therefore not ranked. This allowed Choe, who lifted an impressive 143 kg, to move into the silver medal position, leaving Goricheva with bronze.