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Ilin wins gold on empty stomach! |
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By: AFP |
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Date:
2008-08-18 |
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Place: Beijing |
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Weightlifter Ilya Ilin, who had not eaten properly for three days to make the weight cut, won Kazakhstan's first gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in sudden-death yesterday.
In a contest that went to the last lift, and which could have been decided by a body weight tie-break, Ilin, the 2006 world champion, shed four kilograms over three days to qualify for the 94kg limit.
Working virtually on an empty stomach, he heaved 180kg in the snatch and 226kg in the clean and jerk for a total lift of 406kg.
The 20 year-old said he was four kilograms above the cut by Thursday.
"I didn't eat anything, that's all," he shrugged. "Of course I have to eat soon!" |
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