BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Alireza Yousefi claimed the superheavyweight gold in the men's +85kg category to conclude the weightlifting competition at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games on Saturday.
Yousefi, 15, the Asian youth champion, produced a sensational final lift to deny Hristo Hristov of Bulgaria the gold at the Europe Pavilion.
The Iranian had found himself trailing Hristov after the snatch round, as the best result he could manage was 162kg, while the Bulgarian registered 165, 170 and 173kg.
But the tide turned in the clean & jerk round. With a second lift of 211kg, Yousefi made sure of second place ahead of Enzo Kuworge of the Netherlands, though he remained 6kg behind Hristov.
Yousefi steeled himself for one final effort, and his lift of 218kg was enough to overhaul his rival by 1kg. He celebrated his victory by kneeling down to kiss the stage.
"I always believe that I will win the gold medal," he said. "I'm very sure about it. It is very difficult and hard, but I finally got the gold.
"It is the happiest time in my life. The gold medal means the future and everything for me."
Earlier on the final day of weightlifting, Supatchanin Khamhaeng of Thailand was in a class of her own in the women's +63kg, winning gold with a total of 236kg, 18kg better than Dilara Narin of Turkey. Dolera Davronova of Uzbekistan was third with 217kg.
Despite missing out on the podium by finishing fourth, Kanah Andrews-Nahu of New Zealand, who won youth, junior and senior titles at the Oceania Weightlifting Championships in June, remained upbeat.
"I definitely don't feel pity for myself," said the New Zealand flagbearer, 17. "I put a lot of pressure on the top three. To compete with such a strong squad of the same age with me and come fourth, I was really happy.
"Today I have broken my PB (personal best) and set new New Zealand records. Now I hold 139 national records in weightlifting back in my country."
Andrews-Nahu began weightlifting at 13 and ever since has been showcasing her talent by smashing records. She is coached by Richie Patterson, a Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist at 85kg. "My coach said I'm lifting more than he was when he was at my age and the same body weight."
The lifter's efforts have already inspired many young people in her community and beyond, and Andrews-Nahu is determined to do more.
"I would like to be a role model for many young (people) of Maori and Pacific descent," she said. "I would go (to) speak publicly to people of my age. I will also do some weightlifting demonstrations."
