Kahi lifts to record personal best | Australian Olympic Committee

Michelle Kahi has broken her personal best in a strong performance on her way to finishing 6th in this evening’s 63kg women’s weightlifting final at Toa Payoh Sports Hall.

Kahi lifted a combined total of 166kg, with 74kgs in the Snatch and 92kgs in the Clean and Jerk, a combined total personal best by _ kilograms.

Kazakhstan’s Zhazira Zhapparkul lifted a total of 205kgs, pipping Russia’s Diana Akhmetova to the gold who lifted 204kgs, with Mexico’s Aremi Fuentes snaring the Bronze lifting 194kgs.

The event did have its share of drama when the jury overruled the three referees and deemed Akhmetova’s second Clean and Jerk 114kg attempt to be a no lift following the referees giving the Russian the green lights.

If the referee’s decision had stood it would have forced Kazakh Zhapparkul to lift an unlikely 119kgs for the gold. Instead Zhapparkul wrapped up the competition with her second Clean and Jerk lift before choosing not to lift her third with the gold already secured.

Kahi steered clear of any controversy of her own, successfully lifting her first lift in the Snatch with the bar at 69kgs before improving her mark to 74kgs on the final attempt.

The Brisbane local remained strong with her first two lifts of the Clean and Jerk successfully lifting 85 and 92 kilograms before her attempt at 95 kilograms proved to be just out of reach.

“Michelle told me the 92kg felt easy for her so she went for the 95kg but just missed out on that,” said coach Angela Wydall.

Kahi was in a running battle with the USA’s Jessica Beed for 6th spot, eventually topping the Americans total by a single kilogram.

“I am really happy with my personal best,” said Kahi.

“ I only beat it by a kilogram but that is still really good. Definitely being here made me want to try harder.”

With some time off now following her event, Kahi is looking forward to one thing more than anything else.

“I am going to be eating because I can” said a laughing Kahi who had to shed four kilograms in the week leading into her event.

Aussie Liam Larkins is up next when he contests the men’s 77kg division tomorrow at 11am.

Michelle Kahi has broken her personal best in a strong performance on her way to finishing 6th in the 63kg women’s weightlifting final at Toa Payoh Sports Hall.

Kahi lifted a combined total of 166kg, with 74kgs in the Snatch and 92kgs in the Clean and Jerk, a combined total personal best by one kilogram.

Kazakhstan’s Zhazira Zhapparkul lifted a total of 205kgs, pipping Russia’s Diana Akhmetova to the gold who lifted 204kgs, with Mexico’s Aremi Fuentes snaring the Bronze lifting 194kgs.

The event did have its share of drama when the jury overruled the three referees and deemed Akhmetova’s second Clean and Jerk 114kg attempt to be a no lift following the referees giving the Russian the green lights.

If the referee’s decision had stood it would have forced Kazakh Zhapparkul to lift an unlikely 119kgs for the gold. Instead Zhapparkul wrapped up the competition with her second Clean and Jerk lift before choosing not to lift her third with the gold already secured.

Kahi steered clear of any controversy of her own, successfully lifting her first lift in the Snatch with the bar at 69kgs before improving her mark to 74kgs on the final attempt.

The Brisbane local remained strong with her first two lifts of the Clean and Jerk successfully lifting 85 and 92 kilograms before her attempt at 95 kilograms proved to be just out of reach.

“Michelle told me the 92kg felt easy for her so she went for the 95kg but just missed out on that,” said coach Angela Wydall.

Kahi was in a running battle with the USA’s Jessica Beed for 6th spot, eventually topping the Americans total by a single kilogram.

“I am really happy with my personal best,” said Kahi.

“ I only beat it by a kilogram but that is still really good. Definitely being here made me want to try harder.”

With some time off now following her event, Kahi is looking forward to one thing more than anything else.

“I am going to be eating because I can” said a laughing Kahi who had to shed four kilograms in the week leading into her event.

Aussie Liam Larkins is up next when he contests the men’s 77kg division on Wednesday August 18.

Matt Bartolo
AOC